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By Marc Lawrence
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Weekend, Jan 10-11 |
The Giants have to get John Harbaugh into their building before they can decide not to let him out of the building with an offer that he can’t refuse.
And even padlocks on the doors won’t matter unless they first fulfill the Rooney Rule requirements and then find more common ground in an interview setting than the growing list of other desirable suitors pursuing Harbaugh, who is considered a leading candidate in-house. So says leading New York Post sports columnist Ryan Dunleavy.
Though Giants fans sensing a dangerous game is afoot are in a hurry to hire the Super Bowl-winning former Ravens coach (who was fired Tuesday), the process cannot be rushed: The search for the next head coach is going to extend into next week, and that means that more competition for Harbaugh’s services could enter a sticky equation.
“He is their home-run hire,” one NFL executive told The Post.
The Giants and Harbaugh do not even have an interview on the books yet, but already there are questions floating around about whether incumbent general manager Joe Schoen would be an obstacle to the hire.
There are no back-channel indications that Harbaugh would pull a power play to force out Schoen the way that Jaguars head coach Liam Coen did to general manager Trent Baalke last year — even with the possibility that longtime Ravens personnel executive Chad Alexander (now with the Chargers) is ready to ascend to a GM role.
At least nine teams have inquired about Harbaugh’s interest, according to reports, which means that three teams currently employing a head coach are coming up with contingencies, since there are just six vacancies. A lot of “would theys” are in play here.
Would the Bills — with reigning MVP Josh Allen to entice any candidate — fire head coach Sean McDermott after a loss to the Jaguars if he squanders a rare path to the Super Bowl without the rival Chiefs in the way?
Would the Packers fire Matt LaFleur — whose job is said to be less secure than his 76-40 record over seven years should warrant — if he loses to the Bears and the sides can’t agree on the compensation for a contract extension beyond 2026?
Would the Steelers fire Mike Tomlin — who has never had a losing record in 19 years at the helm — if he loses to the Texans and the drought without a playoff win extends to 10 seasons?
Would the Eagles fire Nick Sirianni if he loses to the 49ers — just one year after winning the Super Bowl — because the offense is a mess for the second time in three years, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts is regressing and A.J. Brown keeps popping off?
At least three of those four jobs objectively would be more appealing from a roster standpoint than what the Giants have to offer. And the fourth (Steelers) offers a sense of patience and stability that comes with three head coaches since 1969.
At least three of those coaches (McDermott, LaFleur and Tomlin) would interest the Giants and could lessen the overwhelming fan favoritism of Harbaugh. McDermott and Schoen spent four years together at Buffalo.
Don’t rule out the Dolphins ... if they believe they can lure Harbaugh’s talents to tax-free South Beach, perhaps in tandem with Alexander.
But the Giants are not about to hasten the search when interviews reportedly are set for within the next week with former head coaches Mike McCarthy and Raheem Morris.
The Patriots were accused of running a sham search to get Mike Vrabel last year, when they fulfilled the Rooney Rule by interviewing Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich, neither of whom was in the NFL during the 2023 season. The Giants are named in an NFL lawsuit by Brian Flores over a “fake interview process” in 2022.
The Giants must interview two external minority candidates in-person to meet the Rooney Rule. Interim head coach Mike Kafka’s completed in-person interview and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph’s upcoming Zoom do not count.
For any team — the Giants included — that chooses to play in the Harbaugh sweepstakes and treat Kevin Stefanski as a Plan B, there is a risk that another team will prioritize Stefanski and hire him before Harbaugh makes his decision.
The Giants dined with Stefanski on Tuesday night and interviewed him in the building Wednesday, a source told The Post.
A team that finishes as a runner-up for Harbaugh but watches Stefanski get impatient could be left at the altar.
The simplest solution for impatient Giants fans? Root for the Bills, Packers, Steelers and — strange as it sounds — the Eagles on wild-card weekend.
Giants’ fans rooting for the Eagles? Now that’s a horse of a different color.
Enjoy the Wild Card games this weekend, and may the ball bounce your way. |
ON TODAY'S SCORECARD
14 Keys to Winning the NFL Playoffs
Fourteen teams, fourteen quarterbacks ... but only one winner.
Let’s face it. Any team in the NFL playoffs will likely go as far as their quarterback will take them.
That being the case, here is how the starting QBs in this year’s postseason stack up against one another...
14. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
Unfortunately for the Panthers, Young isn’t Cam Newton. He threw for 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions across 16 games. The good news? He had a career year, posting bests in completion rate, passing yards, touchdowns and quarterback rating.
13. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Nix is capable of having terrific games. In Week 15, he lit up the Packers for 302 yards and four touchdowns in a 34–26 victory. Against the Chiefs in November, Nix threw for 295 yards in a 22–19 win. However, Nix also has horrid games. In 17 contests this season, Nix has only had six games of at least 7.0 yards per attempt. He also had seven games with a QBR below 50.0.
12. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
By the basic metrics, Williams had a good season. He just missed on posting the Bears’ first 4,000-yard passing campaign, notching 3,942 yards with 27 touchdown passes and seven interceptions. However, Williams also misses a ton of easy throws. His completion percentage over expectation is -6.9%, the worst of any qualifying quarterback.
11. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The four-time MVP and Super Bowl champion mostly checks down these days to running back Kenneth Gainwell and tight end Pat Freiermuth, as evidenced by them having 85 and 54 targets, respectively, eclipsed only by receiver DK D.J. Metcalf.Still, Rodgers needs to be respected. He has started 21 playoff games, more than anybody else in this year’s playoffs.
10. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Lawrence is playing some of the best football we’ve seen since he entered the league in 2021 as the No. 1 pick in the draft. Thriving under coach Liam Coen, Lawrence has thrown 15 touchdowns and only one interception over the past six weeks, helping Jacksonville win eight consecutive games to close the season. While Lawrence is still young, he’s had some postseason experience, rallying from a 27–0 deficit to beat the Chargers 31–30 in 202.
9. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Darnold is two wins away from the Super Bowl. For much of his career he has been doubted as either a bust or a quarterback incapable of meeting the moment. Last year, he was sacked nine times in a 27–9 wild-card loss to the Rams in his only postseason appearance.
8. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
Love has been inconsistent, much in the same way the Packers have been. Through 15 games, he threw for 3,381 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions while averaging 7.7 yards per attempt. In the playoffs, Love has a 1–2 record with losses to the 49ers and Eagles. He’s also thrown five interceptions in those games.
7. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert has been thrust into an impossible spot this year. Both star tackles, Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, have been out for the season with lower-body injuries, and first-round running back Omarion Hampton has played only nine games. Still, Herbert led the Chargers to 11 wins while throwing for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns in 16 games. However, Herbert’s two playoff games have been nightmares. He could use a signature victory.
6. C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans
Stroud doesn’t have much around him outside of receiver Nico Collins, the only 1,000-yard gainer on the team. However, the offensive line has been much better than expected despite the Texans trading away Laremy Tunsil this offseason. In 2025, Stroud was sacked 23 times compared to 52 a year ago. This year, it’s his job to avoid mistakes while sprinkling in splash plays.
5. Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Purdy might seem like he’s ranked high on the list, but consider his experience. In the playoffs, he has won four games while posting a 96.2 quarterback rating with six touchdown passes and one interception. This season, Purdy was limited to nine games due to turf toe but has come on strong. Over his past four games, he’s logged 11 touchdowns against three interceptions. If he continues playing at that level, the 49ers can make a deep run.
4. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles
This has been a maddening campaign for Hurts and the Eagles. They’re NFC East champions and have a real chance to defend their crown, but the offense has been a mess, with only six games scoring more than 24 points. Still, Hurts has been fantastic in the playoffs. He’s a champion, a two-time Super Bowl participant, with 20 total touchdowns and four turnovers.
3. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Maye has a shot to win the MVP award, and deservedly so. Maye compiled an elite season with 31 touchdown passes and 4,394 passing yards. Only in his second year, Maye helped lead the Patriots to 14 wins, an AFC East title and the second seed, giving New England its first real chance at a title since the days of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
2. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Stafford is once again the betting favorite to win MVP honors after the Rams took care of the Cardinals, 37–20, on Sunday. The 37-year-old threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns on the year to pace the NFL in both categories. Stafford didn’t lead Los Angeles to the NFC’s top seed or even the divisional crown, but his numbers are far and away the best in the league.
1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Allen has a wealth of playoff experience, an MVP award on his mantle and the comfort of knowing that his personal postseason bogeyman, Patrick Mahomes, can’t hurt him this year. This season has been uneven for Allen, who threw for 3,668 yards and 25 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. In his playoff career, Allen has a 7–6 record with two conference title game appearances. His splits are significant in wild-card round play compared to every other round.
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GRINDING OUT THE PROFITS
U-Turn
“We did it in 1983, ‘87 and ‘91, winning national championships at home. Let’s see if we can do it again.”
Those were the words of University of Miami athletic director Dan Radokovich, who took over four years ago simultaneously with the arrival of the school’s prodigal son, coach Mario Cristobal.
Hard Rock Stadium, here come your Canes.
“We haven’t been home for a long time,” said Cristobal, a Cuban-blooded former Miami player and native of the city. “We’ve been on the road five straight games.”
What a story this is. The 10th-seed team in the 12-team playoff — the last at-large selection into the field — is playing for it all. It’s four years in the making.
The College Football Playoff selection committee decided to move Miami ahead of Notre Dame at the last minute.
After keeping the Hurricanes behind the Fighting Irish for weeks, the people in charge of the 12-team bracket moved the Hurricanes ahead of Notre Dame on Sunday and into the postseason.
Notre Dame had been ahead of Miami for every iteration of playoff rankings this season despite losing to the Hurricanes in Week 1. The two teams finished with the same 10-2 record and neither played on conference championship weekend.
“When we got Carson Beck, everybody is like, ‘Why are you getting him?!’”
After all, he left Georgia in a shocking move last winter, signing a $4 million contract with the Hurricanes — believed to be one of the largest monetary figures for a player in the sport at the time.
Fast forward to Thursday’s semifinal game. Down by 4 points with just over 3:00 minutes remaining, Beck led the Canes on a march down the field and scored with 0:18 seconds to secure the win and a place in the CFP championship game.
As OC Shannon Dawson said following the victory, “We get to play for a national championship at home. It’s surreal. Goddang!” |
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TRENDING TODAY
All in the Family
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Meet the NFL’s multi-generational Super Bowl stars.
For some NFL families, winning seems to be a hereditary trait. Here’s a look at the fathers and sons who have won the Super Bowl, per Biogrpahy.com ...
• Bruce Davis: 1984 winner with the Oakland Raiders
• Bruce Davis II: 2009 winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Fact: The father was an 11 th round draft pick in 1979 and went on to play in 121 NFL games. He died in December 2021 at age 65. Bruce II wasn’t nearly as impactful a player throughout his career. The linebacker played in only five games that championship season and registered only six tackles in his brief career.
• Steve DeOssie: 1991 winner with the New York Giants
• Zak DeOssie: 2008 and 2012 winner with the New York Giants
Fact: Both DeOssies were long snappers. Steve was victorious in Super Bowl XXV – the infamous “Wide Right” game against Buffalo.
• Bob Griese: 1973 and 1974 winner with the Miami Dolphins
• Brian Griese: 1999 winner with the Denver Broncos
Fact: Bob Griese remains the only quarterback in NFL history to cap off a perfect season with a Super Bowl win, as the Dolphins completed a 17-0 stretch. His son Brian served as the backup quarterback to John Elway for the Denver Broncos’ 34-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons and didn’t have to throw a single pass. He is currently the QB coach for the San Francisco 49ers.
• Ronnie Lott: Four-time winner with the San Francisco 49ers
• Ryan Nece: 2003 winner with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fact: Ronnie Lott, a former defensive back, is one of the most decorated players in NFL history with six All-Pro selections and 63 career interceptions, ranking eighth all-time. The 64-year-old Hall of Famer also contributed to four Super Bowl wins—all with the San Francisco 49ers. Ryan Nece, a former linebacker, won a championship as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2003. However, the now-44-year-old didn’t play in the big game after suffering a ruptured ACL in his knee during the season.
• Emery Moorehead: 1986 winner with the Chicago Bears
• Aaron Moorehead: 2006 winner with the Indianapolis Colts
Fact: Tight end Emery Moorehead helped the team crush the New England Patriots, 46-10. His son Aaron, today 43, never caught on as an NFL regular, catching only 31 career passes as a wide receiver. But, he is a champion after winning the 2006 Super Bowl with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts—beating none other than the Bears.
• Craig Colquitt: 1979 and 1980 winner with the Pittsburgh Steelers
• Britton Colquitt: 2016 winner with the Denver Broncos
• Dustin Colquitt: 2020 winner with the Kansas City Chiefs
Fact: There’s nothing underwhelming about the punting dynasty of Craig Colquitt and his two sons, Britton and Dustin. Craig, now 69, won Super Bowls XIII and XIV with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who were led by their vaunted Steel Curtain defense. Britton, 38, and Dustin, 41, followed suit, winning Super Bowl 50 in 2016 with the Denver Broncos and Super Bowl LIV in 2020 with the Kansas City Chiefs, respectively. FYI: Craig’s brother Jimmy Colquitt, also made the NFL as, you guessed it, a punter.
• Howie Long: 1984 winner with the Oakland Raiders
• Chris Long: 2017 winner with the New England Patriots and 2018 winner with the Philadelphia Eagles
Fact: Howie Long was an eight-time Pro Bowler as a defensive end and Super Bowl XVIII winner. Along with Bruce Davis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His son Chris also played defensive end and was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft out of the University of Virginia. Today 28, he won back-to-back Bowls with the New England Patriots in 2017 (Super Bowl LI) and the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 (Super Bowl LII) before retiring. |
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BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW
Sports Person of the Year
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In the summer of 2019, he was in his office at the Thunder practice facility putting the finishing touches on a roster deconstruction.
They had finalized the deal for Paul George and were close to an agreement with Houston for Russell Westbrook.
That night, after working on an op-ed for The Oklahoman that detailed how the team would dig itself out of the basketball rubble, the reporter was walking down a hallway and heard the sound of a bouncing basketball.
It was Gilgeous-Alexander, fresh off completing his physical, in the gym getting up shots. Watching from an office window Presti thought to himself: Wouldn’t it be something if this guy turned out to be a really good player.
Here is, six years later, and Gilegeous-Alexander was just names Sports Illustrated’s Sports Person of the Year.
An opposing coach referred to him as a 6' 6" Tim Duncan.
He’s more than that. He’s the Sports Person of the Year. |
STAT OF THE DAY
73-0 |
The Chicago Bears hold the NFL record for the biggest playoff shutout margin when they beat Washington in 1940.
Ancient – but insane.
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QUOTE OF THE DAY |
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"Try to learn to breathe deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all
your might, and when you laugh,
laugh like hell. And when you get
angry, get good and angry. Try
to be alive. You will be
dead soon enough."
- Ernest Hemingway |
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ASK MARC
Paddyo from Parma, OH has a question. I live in Cleveland, but cannot be a Browns fan because the Haslam‘s are the owners of the team. What a dysfunctional organization. And they prove it time and time again. You mentioned in the coffee club newsletter on Jim Harbaugh potentially going to Cleveland as a coach. My question is what coach in their right mind, would want to go and work for such a dysfunctional owner. There are no secrets in that community of Football. So why would anyone want to go to Cleveland, much less a great coach like Harbaugh?
Marc Says: Fair question, Paddyo. From the time Haslam assume ownership of the Browns the team's regular-season record in games played under his ownership stands at 77 wins, 144 losses, and 1 tie. In 2016, the Browns went 1-15-0, one of the worst records in modern NFL history. This was followed by a perfect 0-16-0 in 2017—the only team to go completely winless in a 16-game season since the 2008 Detroit Lions (who also went 0-16). The Browns have cycled through numerous head coaches (8 since 2012) and general managers, contributing to inconsistency. Perhaps the most controversial low-light, the Browns traded for quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in March 2022, giving up three first-round draft picks (2022-2024), a 2023 third-rounder, and two fourth-rounders (2022 and 2024) in exchange.They then signed him to a five-year, $230 million fully guaranteed contract despite Watson facing 22 civil lawsuits alleging sexual harassment and assault (he settled 20, with no criminal charges filed). That’s Jimmy Haslam for you.
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SONG OF THE WEEKEND
No. 1 song this weekend in 1988.
With Super Bowl LX just a month
away, it’s where every NFL
player’s mindset is today.
Click Here to See and Hear It Now.
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