GLENDALE – The Arizona Cardinals had slim chances already to win the John Harbaugh sweepstakes. Harbaugh is one of the best head coaching candidates in the market, with Arizona in desperate need of a winning coach. However, ESPN’s Tony Grossi found out and explained the 63-year-old coach’s demands, which likely prove to be too much for the Cardinals to match or pay up.
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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
Grossi on Harbaugh’s demands to be next head coach:
General manager Monti Ossenfort is heading the coaching search for the franchise, which might be a conflict of interest for the team. Harbaugh will want a trusted peer to become his next team’s general manager or a high-ranking position. Ossenfort will surely want to keep his job or power in the situation and won’t want to hire a head coach that will put his job in jeopardy.
Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort 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. Syndication: Arizona Republic
Despite the job security, owner Michael Bidwill probably wouldn’t even be able to match Harbaugh’s high price tag. Bidwill and his family in the past have hired head coaches that have been coordinators the previous season. The reasoning could be hiring an unknown commodity is a lot cheaper than an experienced head coach. The Cardinals haven’t hired a head coach with previous NFL experience since Dennis Green in 2o04.
The franchise has already released their eight names that it would like to interview for the head coaching, and Harbaugh isn’t one of the names. That could always change, but knowing Arizona’s history, it’ll shift towards a cheaper alternative.
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Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
