You can’t fault John Harbaugh for taking the deal. When the New York Giants come calling with a $100 million contract, even the most seasoned coach has to listen.
That kind of offer doesn’t just knock on the door-it kicks it down. And for a franchise with the history and market power of the Giants, despite their recent chaos, it’s a shot most wouldn’t pass up.
Still, you have to wonder if there’s a twinge of second-guessing creeping in today.
Because over in Buffalo, the Bills just made a major move-parting ways with head coach Sean McDermott. And now, one of the most intriguing jobs in the NFL is suddenly wide open.
We’re talking about a team built to win now, anchored by one of the league’s elite quarterbacks in Josh Allen. That’s not just any coaching vacancy-that’s a golden ticket.
But Harbaugh won’t be in the running. Neither will Kevin Stefanski, who’s already locked in as the new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. Two of the top coaching candidates are already off the board before one of the most attractive jobs even hit the market.
This is one of those classic NFL timing quirks that leaves everyone with a bit of “what if” on their mind.
Baltimore missed the playoffs, and Harbaugh was let go shortly after the regular season wrapped. Meanwhile, Buffalo extended its postseason run into the second weekend. That meant even if ownership had been considering a change all along, they couldn’t make the move until nearly two weeks after Harbaugh was already out and fielding offers.
And in that 12-day window, the coaching carousel didn’t wait. Teams were making calls, setting interviews, and finalizing deals.
The Bills, still in the playoff hunt at the time, couldn’t exactly whisper to Harbaugh, “Just hang tight, we might be available.” Because if Buffalo had made a Super Bowl run-or even won it-McDermott might still have a job today.
Harbaugh could’ve gambled. He could’ve waited to see if the Bills job opened up.
But that’s a high-stakes bet when there’s $100 million on the table. In this league, nothing is guaranteed-not even tomorrow, let alone a job that might never become available.
So while he may wonder about what could’ve been-coaching a ready-made contender with a generational quarterback-he’s also heading to New York with a massive contract and a chance to revamp one of the NFL’s most iconic franchises.
At the end of the day, nine figures tend to ease the sting of any missed opportunity. But it’s hard not to imagine the possibilities.
A coach like Harbaugh paired with Josh Allen? That’s the kind of pairing that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
Instead, the Bills are back in the market, and the top names are already spoken for. Timing, as always in the NFL, is everything.