The Atlanta Falcons are starting to look like a real player in the John Harbaugh sweepstakes, with reports saying they’re “increasingly interested” as the coaching carousel spins fast.
It’s not hard to see why. Harbaugh is one of the most accomplished options on the market, and once he became available, teams immediately circled.
The New York Giants are reportedly going all-in and could meet with him as soon as this weekend, but Atlanta keeps popping up as the other serious threat in the mix.
Why Atlanta is starting to feel like a true Harbaugh spot
The Falcons just moved on from Raheem Morris after two seasons, and owner Arthur Blank has been in “win now” mode for a while. Two years ago, Blank reportedly had major interest in Bill Belichick, and the Harbaugh appeal is similar without the same reputation for an iron-fist takeover.
The Atlanta Falcons should hire John Harbaugh.
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 7, 2026
Around the league, Harbaugh is viewed as collaborative, respected, and culture-driven, which matters for a franchise that’s been cycling through resets. Add in the fact that the NFC South is widely seen as winnable year to year, and Atlanta can credibly sell this opening as one of the best available if the organization is aligned.
The Harbaugh resume and the Giants pressure cooker
Atlanta’s interest is also tied to the reality that Harbaugh’s track record is hard to match. He coached the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons, won a Super Bowl, and stacked up a 180-113 regular-season record along the way.
.@SaturdayJeff believes John Harbaugh could coach for the Falcons 👀
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) January 7, 2026
Where do you see him landing? pic.twitter.com/rFc9ShL0tY
That kind of floor is rare, which is why the Giants are being described as “all-in” and why Harbaugh’s availability could reshape multiple searches quickly, including the Falcons’. Some chatter also notes Harbaugh’s apparent respect for the Giants situation.
The Falcons have already requested interviews with other candidates, but if they believe Harbaugh is gettable, expect the urgency to spike fast. The best path is Atlanta doing this aggressively but by the book, because the league-wide rush to land a big name always brings the Rooney Rule conversation into the background.
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