With the Miami Dolphins officially firing head coach Mike McDaniel, the Giants have a major challenger in their pursuit of former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.
However, the Giants have a clear advantage over Miami in one area, and that is having their franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart. The Dolphins, meanwhile, seem poised to move on from Tua Tagovailoa after a difficult 2025, which would create uncertainty at the quarterback position.
Dolphinsâ Messy QB Room: Tua Tagovailoa and Quinn Ewers
Miamiâs quarterback picture is anything but tidy. The Dolphins entered 2025 with Tua Tagovailoa as the starter, only to bench him late in the year in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers after a stretch of inconsistent performances. Tagovailoa, once a franchise cornerstone, struggled with turnovers and injuries, resulting in a quarterback carousel that leaves the Dolphins with no clear long-term plan at the most crucial position.
Adding to the complexity, Tagovailoa reportedly expressed openness to a fresh start elsewhere, even though he carries $56 million guaranteed against the 2026 cap. That combination of high cost, underperformance, and potential departure creates a high-stakes QB situation any incoming head coach must navigate immediately â limiting control over offensive philosophy and roster construction.
For Harbaugh, this represents risk. Heâs inherited quarterbacks in the past, but rarely with the mix of contractual obligation, fan pressure, and uncertainty present in Miami. While the Dolphins boast offensive talent and a chance to compete sooner, any coach stepping in would face a messy quarterback room that complicates long-term planning.
Giantsâ Blueprint: Jaxson Dart and a Clean Slate
Contrast that with New York. The Giants can pitch Harbaugh a quarterback he can truly develop, centered around Jaxson Dart. Dart is young, athletic, mentally tough, and most importantly, moldable â the type of quarterback Harbaugh has historically thrived with.
Unlike Miami, the Giants arenât asking a coach to adapt to a failing QB or navigate an expensive contract. Dart offers clarity, patience, and alignment with a rebuild designed to grow from the quarterback outward. Harbaugh would have the freedom to instill a culture, implement his offensive philosophy, and shape the team’s identity without the inherited baggage.
This developmental approach mirrors Harbaughâs past success: building around quarterbacks who are coachable, resilient, and competitive â whether it was Joe Flacco in Baltimore or Lamar Jackson in later years. With Dart, Harbaugh could leave a legacy-defining imprint on the Giants, constructing a long-term contender on his terms.
The Bottom Line
NFL reporter Daniel Jeremiah speculated that Harbaugh may want to bring his own general manager with him to his next coaching destination, and that GM could be Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander. Miami has made Alexander a finalist for the role, while the Giants appear set on Joe Schoen through the offseason and beyond.
New York offers long-term control, quarterback clarity, and a blueprint built around Jaxson Dart, allowing a veteran coach to craft a team with his vision from the ground up. According to SNY’s Connor Hughes, Harbaugh is the top coach on the Giants’ wish list, while Diana Russini of The Athletic has pointed out that the interest is reciprocal from Harbaugh’s end.
In the coaching sweepstakes, quarterback clarity may be the decisive factor. And in that comparison, the Giants currently hold the edge â a clean slate, a young franchise quarterback, and the chance to build a culture that reflects Harbaughâs identity and leadership style.
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