Two days after he was fired by the Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh used the word “we” when he talked about the New York Giants. He did not catch himself or correct himself in our phone conversation, because it sounded right. It felt right.
He was picturing himself in that tunnel and on that sideline wearing the cap, jacket and colors of one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Again, he was only 48 hours removed from a phone call with Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti that separated him from 18 years of earnest and accomplished work, and he was already picturing himself leading the big team in the big city to victory.
“I think we can win games next year with this roster and the players coming back,” Harbaugh said.
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Even before Bisciotti ran him out, Harbaugh had already ranked the Giants atop his list of potential job openings that interested him in the event he didn’t get that 19th year with the Ravens. He weighed all the possibilities, including the Titans, Falcons, Browns, Dolphins, Raiders, etc. And Harbaugh kept circling back to the Giants.
He wanted that job and that quarterback, Jaxson Dart, after his relationship with Lamar Jackson had reached a point where mutual fatigue had overtaken their mutual respect.
At age 63, Harbaugh wanted thi
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