John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski made their moves early in this NFL coaching cycle-decisive, calculated, and rooted in stability. But just a few weeks later, the landscape shifted dramatically, and now both coaches might be looking at the Buffalo Bills job and thinking, Did we jump too soon?
Let’s unpack it.
Harbaugh, after being let go by the Ravens following a disappointing end to the season, didn’t stay on the market long. The Giants came calling fast, reportedly offering a $100 million deal.
That kind of offer doesn’t sit on the table for long, and Harbaugh didn’t hesitate. From New York’s perspective, the urgency made sense-they didn’t want to risk missing out on a proven winner.
Stefanski, meanwhile, saw an opportunity in Atlanta. The Falcons were ready for a reset, and Stefanski liked what he saw: a front office willing to give him control and a long-term vision. He didn’t wait around either.
But then came the curveball: Buffalo.
The Bills, still alive in the playoffs at the time, weren’t in position to make a coaching change. Teams don’t typically fire their head coach mid-playoff run, no matter what’s brewing behind the scenes. But once their postseason ended, they made a bold move-parting ways with Sean McDermott and opening up what is now arguably the most attractive vacancy in the league.
Why? Simple: Josh Allen is already in place, the defense has real talent, and the front office is ready for a fresh direction.
That’s the kind of setup coaches dream about. A franchise quarterback, a playoff-caliber roster, and a chance to compete for a Super Bowl right away.
Now, compare that to what Harbaugh and Stefanski stepped into.
In New York, Harbaugh inherits a 4-13 team that hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2022. There’s some intrigue with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who flashed potential this season, but the roster is thin, and the rebuild won’t be quick. It’s a proud franchise in need of a full reset-and Harbaugh’s going to need every bit of that $100 million worth of patience from ownership.
In Atlanta, Stefanski has some weapons-Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts-but the quarterback situation is murky at best. Without a clear answer under center, his ability to turn things around quickly is far from guaranteed.
Yes, he has control. Yes, he has time.
But in this league, those things can vanish fast if the wins don’t come.
It’s easy to see why both coaches made the decisions they did. The NFL coaching carousel moves fast, and the risk of waiting-especially when big offers are already on the table-is real.
Buffalo couldn’t ask Harbaugh or Stefanski to hold out on the off chance McDermott would be let go. If the Bills had made a Super Bowl run, McDermott might still have his job.
But now, here we are. The Bills job is open, and it’s the crown jewel of this year’s hiring cycle.
Harbaugh and Stefanski are locked into their new roles, likely content with the choices they made. Still, the timing feels cruel.
They played it safe, and the best job opened late.
That’s life in the NFL coaching world-where opportunity, timing, and a little bit of luck all collide. This year, two top coaches made their moves early. And now, the rest of us are left wondering what might’ve been.