GLENDALE – One of the biggest shockers in the NFL this past week was the Baltimore Ravens firing 18-year head coach John Harbaugh. The Ravens become one of the seven teams looking for a new head coach heading into the 2026, including the Arizona Cardinals after firing head coach Jonathan Gannon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that seven teams reached out to Harbaugh’s agent to expressed their interest in the head coach. While not confirmed, one has to believe Arizona reached out for the Super Bowl winning coach.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Harbaugh will be in high demand and will be an expensive option for owner Michael Bidwill to pay. However, Bidwill stated the Gannon firing was because of wins and loss, if he was serious Harbaugh is the clear choice to target.
Jan 4, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reacts on the field before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Harbaugh best coaching option on market:
Since 1948, Arizona has only made the playoffs 10 times, while Harbaugh in 18 years has made 12 and has a Super Bowl victory. The franchise has 10 double digit win seasons in its entire history, the 63-year-old has 11 during his tenure in Baltimore. Harbaugh inherited a rookie quarterback and coached a team to five straight playoff appearances and a Lombardi Trophy. Then, did the same thing 10 years later with Lamar Jackson, securing a playoff spot in six of the next seven years.
Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill speaks to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026.
Harbaugh is the pinnacle of coaching in the NFL, he wins at an impressive level. The problem for Bidwill and his team is that their reputation is in the mud. Many outlets has Arizona as the worst landing spot for any coach on the job market. Uncertainty at quarterback, with a top pick that is outside the mark to draft a franchise QB, will have coaches hesitant to join a project like the Cardinals.
However, Bidwill could look to replicate what the Denver Broncos did in 2023. Hire a championship winning coach, give him a season to install his system, then the following year draft a quarterback the future. Denver did that with Sean Payton and Box Nix, and after two seasons together are the 1st seed in the AFC with a 14-3 record.
Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill and general manager Monti Ossenfort speak to the press from the Arizona Cardinals training center in Tempe after the decision to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon on Jan. 5, 2026.
Hiring a former NFL head coach hasn’t been the Cardinals M.O. in years past. It’s been 23 years since Arizona hired a former head coach in Dennis Green, who lasted three seasons. Since then, the franchise has looked at coordinators from the NFL and college level with its past five head coaches. General manager Monti Ossenfort will be leading the charge of hiring the new head coach, which could lead to a change of perspective on hiring a head coach with experience at the position.
Harbaugh wanting to come to the Valley is a whole different question. The Cardinals haven’t done enough to make themselves and attractive job offer for a prestigious coach like Harbaugh. If Arizona could pull off that miracle, it could be the spark to turn the franchise around for the better.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
