The New York Giants‘ hiring of John Harbaugh as head coach nearly faltered amid tense negotiations, with veteran reporter Ian O’Connor revealing that talks “got a little dicey” on Friday night.
O’Connor reports that Harbaugh expressed uncertainty that things would get done.
One last note:. As things got a little dicey last night, I texted John Harbaugh at 9:17 p.m. to see if he was still confident he’d become the team’s next head coach.
His response: 🤷🏼♂️
Sleep well tonight Giants fans. And I’ll get back to you shortly on that 2007-2011 book!
— Ian O’Connor (@Ian_OConnor) January 17, 2026
The delay stemmed from a reported internal power struggle over personnel control. Harbaugh sought significant roster and staffing input, clashing with the Giants’ traditional way of conducting business. Additional reports indicated Harbaugh wanted concessions, including potential changes to long-tenured staff and reporting to ownership and not general manager Joe Schoen.
Throughout the process, NFL insiders and beat reporters repeatedly assured fans that holdups were merely contractual language being hashed out by lawyers, dismissing concerns as overreactions. Yet the underlying issues proved more substantive, validating fans’ legitimate anxiety that the deal could collapse.
Ownership ultimately resolved the impasse by agreeing to let Harbaugh report directly to them, bypassing Schoen. The five-year, $100 million contract was finalized Saturday, securing the Super Bowl-winning coach for the Giants.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Negotiations between New York Giants, John Harbaugh ‘got dicey’ before hire
