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Veteran sports agent Leigh Steinberg believes John Harbaugh’s recent availability as an NFL head coach is comparable to Bill Belichick’s.
Steinberg told Pak Gazette Digital in a recent interview that Harbaugh is by far the best candidate for the eight teams that currently have head coaching vacancies.
“He’s going to be the best free agent coach in years,” Steinberg said. “He’s the quintessential perfect hire for multiple teams this year, which will give him a lot of leverage.”
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Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens watches in the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 2, 2022. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump even endorsed Harbaugh in a Truth Social post on Wednesday, writing, “HIRE JOHN HARBAUGH, FAST.”
Steinberg revealed how he thinks Trump’s endorsement may affect demand for Harbaugh’s services.
“I really don’t think so,” Steinberg said when asked if Trump’s comments would increase Harbaugh’s market value. “It’s pretty flattering to have the president of the United States as a fan, so that part is positive. But like I said before, I don’t think a coach has had that much influence and options in years.”
With Harbaugh set to be the most successful coach of the cycle and eight teams looking to hire, one game in particular stands out for Steinberg.
“I don’t know why, but the New York Giants stand out to me,” Steinberg said.
The agent said the Giants are an intriguing destination specifically because of the emergence of quarterback Jaxson Dart.
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“To win in contemporary football, you need to have a franchise quarterback,” Steinberg said. “It’s impossible to win consistently in the NFL without that franchise quarterback. So that would be high on my list.”
The Giants were the favorites to land Harbaugh at least until Thursday morning. However, once the Miami Dolphins fired their head coach Mike McDaniel on Thursday, Harbaugh quickly became the favorite to be the Dolphins’ next coach, according to Kalshi.
Whether Harbaugh decides between the Giants and Dolphins will depend on the chemistry that develops in upcoming interviews and which franchise the coach believes will provide the most synergy and support.
“It’s going to be the chemistry that happens in those interviews,” Steinberg said. “If it comes down to a couple [options] “So I’m sure a coach will look for that chemistry, that mind-meld, that shared vision, and they’ll feel like they’re going to get to a space with support.”
Harbaugh is coming off an 18-year tenure with the Baltimore Ravens that included a Super Bowl XLVII victory, 12 playoff appearances, four AFC Championship games, six division titles, the most wins in franchise history (over 193 total, 180 in the regular season) and just three losing seasons in 18 years.
Still, Harbaugh is now fired as a head coach for the first time in his career and is navigating those waters as a fired head coach for the first time.
Steinberg’s analysis of the fired Harbaugh comes at a time when Steinberg himself is publishing a book on how to recover from the low points in life and careers.
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Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens walks on the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“We all go through life. Inevitably, we will go through a setback at some point… there will be a crash of some kind where someone will lose the arc of their life in darkness and despair,” Steinberg said.
The book, titled “The Comeback,” will be published on March 3.
