John Harbaugh didn’t envision taking an extended break from coaching when his 18-year run with the Ravens came to an abrupt end this month.
The Super Bowl-winning coach “didn’t have enough time” to ponder that possibility, as his new opportunity awaited days later as coach of the New York Football Giants.
“As far as taking time off, I figured I didn’t have enough time to take time off, there’s no time for that, so, just couldn’t wait to get back to work, that was never a question, really, [wife] Ingrid and I talked about it, Ingrid’s ready to go, too, we’re fired up and it had to be the right opportunity. This was kind of the obvious one from the beginning,” Harbaugh said at his introductory Giants press conference Tuesday, days after his five-year pact became official.
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Harbaugh.
Two days after the Ravens’ season concluded with a Week 18 loss to the Steelers — now without longtime coach Mike Tomlin, who stepped away from coaching — Baltimore fired Harbaugh, making him the hottest candidate on the market.
It didn’t take long for the Giants to pounce, with team brass visiting Harbaugh at his Maryland home before hosting the 63-year-old coach for a visit to the team’s facility last Wednesday.
He dined with general manager Joe Schoen at the local Elia Mediterranean Restaurant to cap off Wednesday’s visit — his first to an NFL club with the Titans and Falcons also in pursuit — with news breaking later that night that a Big Blue union was imminent.
As Giants fans waited on bated breath for official confirmation, speculation began to arise Friday whether an issue was brewing between the club and Harbaugh, as no deal had been formally announced.
Fans sighed a collective breath of relief Saturday when the $100 million marriage was deemed official.
Harbaugh will report directly to co-owner John Mara, a stark contrast from franchise tradition when the general manager served as the channel between parties.
“John Mara is one of the huge reasons I’m here,’’ Harbaugh told The Post’s Paul Schwartz. “I think it starts with John. He represented the Giants to me all these years, since I’ve been in the NFL. I’ve seen him constantly over the years in different settings. Getting a chance to talk to him at the beginning of the process, I was talking to him early, I talked to him throughout, I don’t know how many times, numerous times throughout, and of course on the visit there at length, and in detail. And again at the end.”
Harbaugh viewed the Giants as an alluring destination and is already fantasizing about the playoffs with his new club, which went 4-13 in 2025.
“I was impressed,’’ he said of the roster. “I think they got a good core of players, got some young guys that really love football and want to work and want to get to it.’’
That work begins now.
