The Giants had their first round of interviews set up for their head coach vacancy, but a new addition to the pool of candidates has forced an immediate adjustment. That is what happens when someone with the cache and history of success that John Harbaugh possesses suddenly becomes available.
The Ravens on Tuesday fired Harbaugh after 18 years, and yes, the Giants are interested in speaking with him. That figures to be the case for every team with an opening.
Harbaugh, 63, will be in high demand and the Giants want to get in on him as soon as possible. He is 180-113 in the regular season and 13-11 in the postseason, winning the 2013 Super Bowl. Since then, though, the Ravens in the past 13 years have been to the playoffs seven times but made only one appearance in the AFC Championship game. Harbaugh went 8-9 in 2025, missing out on the playoffs with an agonizing loss to the rival Steelers in Week 18, and he is now out in Baltimore.
This is not a typical former head coach hitting the open market. Harbaugh probably needed a change of scenery and if he wants to work as a head coach in 2026, he will.
What was expected to be a long and drawn-out process for the Giants just got longer and more drawn out. They are waiting to see what happens in the first round of the playoffs with Mike Tomlin and the Steelers and Matt LaFleur and the Packers. One or both of those respected head coaches could be let go, depending on how their teams fare this weekend. This could end up being a wild ride, with a few monster candidates sorting through all sorts of offers.
Schoen has never worked with Harbaugh but he is familiar with him from their shared time in the league. It is not a requirement for Schoen to have a connection with a candidate, but it certainly does not hurt. The Giants will interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, The Post confirmed, and he will not need to introduce himself to Schoen.
The Giants will also bring Kevin Stefanski — fired by the Browns immediately after the season — in for an interview Wednesday. Lou Anarumo, the Colts defensive coordinator — a Staten Island native and Giants defensive assistant in 2018 — will also be interviewed.
Schoen and Joseph worked together with the Dolphins in 2016. Schoen was in his last year as the director of player personnel and Joseph was in his first year as the defensive coordinator. It turned out to be a good season in Miami, as the Dolphins won nine of their last 11 games to make the playoffs and Joseph’s defense led the way with 21 takeaways in that span of games.
Joseph, 53, is not only a successful coordinator but he also has head coaching experience. He went 5-11 with the Broncos in 2017 and 6-10 in 2-18 before he was fired. After four seasons running the Cardinals defense, Sean Payton in 2023 brought Joseph back to Denver and the Broncos defense this season paved the way for the AFC West title, a record of 14-3 and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. Joseph’s unit finished second in rushing defense (91.1 yards per game), third in scoring defense (18.3 points) and first in the NFL with 68 sacks.
“We’re going to cast a wide net, and there’s no directive that it has to be an offensive guy or defensive guy or special teams or college or whatever it may be, having head coaching experience previously,’’ Schoen said. “We are going to find the best leader for the franchise.’’
The Broncos have a first-round playoff bye, meaning Joseph’s interview with the Giants will have to be virtual and must take place anywhere from Wednesday to the following Monday.
Joseph is expected to also interview with the Cardinals, Raiders and Titans, according to ESPN, so he will be making the rounds.
Anarumo also has a connection with Schoen. They worked together for five years with the Dolphins.
