John Harbaugh has been fired by the Baltimore Ravens and has immediately become the hottest name in the NFL’s head coaching carousel. He’s undoubtedly getting plenty of job offers; now the question is, where will he go? Does he take one of the seven already open head coaching jobs? Does he take a year off? Could he go to a team that hasn’t fired its coach yet? Let’s take a look at the odds and make our predictions on John Harbaugh’s next team. I also have a wild card landing spot that might be the perfect fit for Harbaugh.
Harbaugh spent 18 seasons as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. He was just the third head coach in the team’s history. Harbaugh went 180-113 in the regular season, 13-11 in the postseason, and won the 2019 AP NFL Coach of the Year. Harbaugh also led the team to their second Super Bowl Championship in Super Bowl XLVII, where he defeated his brother and the San Francisco 49ers.
It appeared that things were coming to a head this season as the Ravens struggled down the stretch and rumors swirled of Harbaugh and franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson’s relationship fraying. The Ravens had a chance to make the playoffs with a win on Sunday Night Football, but a missed field goal as time expired sealed the team’s fate. It all boiled over on Tuesday when the team cut ties with Harbaugh.
We’ve seen successful head coaches who had a long stint with a team move on and need a change of pace and a fresh start. The most growing example is Andy Reid. Reid was the Philadelphia Eagles head coach for 13 years before moving on to Kansas City, where he has now won three Super Bowl Championships. That is likely the goal for John Harbaugh, and he’s got a choice to make about which organization might give him the best chance at that type of success.
*Odds reflected here are from DraftKings Sportsbook and specify (interim appointments do not count, all bets action.) Check your book’s rules.
John Harbaugh’s Next Team Odds, Prediction, and a Wild Card Landing Spot
New York Giants (-150)
The New York Giants are the obvious choice here, and the odds reflect that. If that franchise can’t land Harbaugh or Stefanski, their fans should be highly disappointed. This Giants team is set up with a good-looking future. Jaxson Dart has looked the part as the quarterback of the future. They have playmakers on offense like Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, and Wandale Robinson. On the defensive side of the ball, they have young playmakers like Pro Bowl DT Dexter Lawrence, star pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux, veteran edge rusher Brian Burns, and cornerback Deonte Banks. They also have the fifth pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
If Harbaugh decides to take the New York Giants job, there is no reason this team next year couldn’t be like this year’s Patriots, Bears, and Jaguars teams with quick turnarounds. -150 odds are a little tough to bet, but this is the likely destination for Harbaugh, and my prediction is he’ll end up here.
Las Vegas Raiders (+450)
The Raiders are an interesting team to be next in the odds. Who doesn’t want to take their last job before retirement in Sin City and live out their days in Las Vegas? You get to work with Tom Brady and, of course, have the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. The Raiders have pieces on offense in young stars, much like the Giants do. Brock Bowers is a game-changing tight end. Ashton Jeanty has a lot of potential at running back. Maxx Crosby is a Raider, at least for now. Harbaugh could convince him to come back or use him as a haul to rebuild this team. If Harbaugh were to take this job, it doesn’t seem like the easy, quick turnaround type of team the Giants are. Also, looking around at the division his brother is in, this is going to be a tough division to compete in for years to come.
Atlanta Falcons (+650)
Atlanta is a similarly interesting spot for Harbaugh to end up. Once again, a team loaded with offensive talent. Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts. The quarterback question is still hanging in the air with this team, and they have no first-round pick in 2026. It was traded away in the last draft to the Los Angeles Rams. Atlanta seems maybe the closest to the type of place Baltimore is, but the farthest in terms of being able to compete right away. That being said, it may be one of the weaker divisions if that is a factor.
Tennessee Titans (+800)
The Tennessee Titans were the dumpster fire of all dumpster fires earlier this year. But Cam Ward made big strides, and the team showed some fight. The problem here is that Tennessee looks to be a few pieces away still and more of a rebuilding franchise. Maybe that’s what John Harbaugh wants, but when you have the pick of the litter, this one looks the least attractive. I find it hard to see the Tennessee Titans as the landing spot for John Harbaugh.
Cleveland Browns (+1000)
Imagine Harbaugh deciding to stay in the AFC North and sliding over to the Cleveland Browns. I can realistically see this more so than going to Atlanta or Tennessee. The Browns, while they have a horrible history, might not be that far off from success. The quarterback situation is a bit of a mess and needs cleaning up. Outside of that, Harold Fannin looks to be a good young star. Quinshon Judkins, when he returns from injury, showed flashes. Myles Garrett clearly is a wrecking ball. Don’t forget, Deshaun Watson should be back from injury. I’m not sure why you’d take this job over the Giants, but Harbaugh would actually be a good fit with this team, in a division he’s comfortable with.
Arizona Cardinals (NA)
There are no odds listed for the Arizona Cardinals, but they are the other team with a head coach opening at the moment. They are yet another team with a plethora of offensive talent. Tre McBride, Marvin Harrison Jr, and Michael Wilson are solid building blocks. Maybe Kyler Murray returns if Harbaugh were to come here. If not, they can trade him, and they hold the third overall pick in the Draft. As the lack of odds would suggest, this destination seems unlikely.
Buffalo Bills (Wild Card)
I would like to introduce a wild card option into the conversation. The reports are that seven teams have called Harbaugh’s agent to inquire about his services. As listed above, only six teams besides the Ravens have job openings. So who could the seventh team be? What if it is the Buffalo Bills? The Bills have been a great team, but they constantly run into trouble in the playoffs. They limp into this year’s playoffs as a team not looking that good. I predict they will lose this weekend to the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars.
If they aren’t able to capitalize on a playoff field without the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson on the AFC side and get bounced early. Could the Bills look up and say we’ve got an opportunity to go grab the hottest name on the market in years, a Super Bowl-winning head coach? To pair with the best quarterback Buffalo has ever seen. The Bills and Harbaugh should both jump at this opportunity if this situation lines up. Keep your eyes open if Buffalo loses on Sunday.
