World news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Chris Mara takes The Post inside Giants’ John Harbaugh recruitment and the ‘shock to everybody’ it included
Chris Mara, the Giants’ senior vice-president of player personnel, says he was the one who proposed visiting John Harbaugh during the team’s search for a head coach. His account shows how an early personal approach helped the Giants move ahead of other interested teams and secure Harbaugh, whose arrival brought a major change to the club’s football leadership.
Mara says Harbaugh told him the Giants were his first choice, and Mara later returned to discuss the roster, coaches and how the organisation would be run. Harbaugh was to take full control of football operations, a structure that initially surprised and met some reluctance from ownership. Mara says Harbaugh and general manager Joe Schoen now work well together, and credits Harbaugh’s calm communication and ability to hold players accountable.
In short
- Chris Mara says he initiated the Giants’ approach to John Harbaugh.
- Harbaugh told Mara the Giants were his first choice.
- His control of football operations initially surprised the organisation.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Giving Harbaugh full control of football operations could bring clear leadership and accountability, while allowing the coach and general manager to work effectively within defined roles. Mara’s account suggests that a direct, personal approach helped the Giants secure their preferred candidate and that Harbaugh’s calm communication has earned support within the organisation.
The case against
Concentrating authority in the head coach’s hands can reduce the checks and shared judgement that ownership and a general manager provide, particularly when major roster and staffing decisions are involved. The reported initial reluctance reflects a reasonable concern that changing established responsibilities could create friction or make the club overly dependent on one person’s judgement.