Honestly, if you told a New York Giants fan a year ago that John Harbaugh would be the one walking through the doors of the Quest Diagnostics Training Center to save the franchise, they probably would’ve laughed you out of the room. But here we are. It is Friday, January 16, 2026, and the biggest piece of NFL news for today is that the G-Men are officially finalizing a massive five-year deal to make the former Ravens legend their next head coach.
It feels kinda surreal, right?
Harbaugh spent 18 seasons in Baltimore. He was the furniture. He was the culture. But after the Ravens missed the playoffs on a heartbreaking missed field goal in Week 18 against the Steelers, the unthinkable happened—he was out. Now, Joe Schoen is betting the house that a 63-year-old Super Bowl winner can fix a team that has basically been a revolving door for coaches since Tom Coughlin was shown the exit in 2015.
We aren't just talking about a coaching hire. We are talking about a total identity shift for a team that has gone 45-105-1 over its last seven coaching regimes. That is a winning percentage of .300. In New York. That's basically professional malpractice.
The Harbaugh Effect and the Jaxson Dart Factor
The real reason this move is the dominant NFL news for today isn't just the name on the contract. It’s about who Harbaugh is inheriting. During the interview process on Tuesday, Harbaugh wasn't just talking to the front office; he was already huddled up with Jaxson Dart.
Dart, the 2025 first-round pick, is the dual-threat engine the Giants have been desperate for. He showed serious flashes of brilliance as a rookie, but let's be real—the coaching around him was a mess. Harbaugh has a history of making QBs work, whether it was Joe Flacco’s historic playoff run or the evolution of Lamar Jackson. If he can turn Dart into a top-10 signal-caller, this five-year contract will look like a bargain.
But the cupboard isn't totally bare. You've got:
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- Andrew Thomas, who is still a brick wall at left tackle.
- Malik Nabers, coming back from injury and looking to regain that WR1 status.
- Abdul Carter, the No. 3 overall pick from the 2025 draft who has the potential to be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.
It’s a weirdly talented roster for a team that went 4-13. Harbaugh isn't walking into a "strip it to the studs" rebuild. He’s walking into a "just stop making mistakes" situation.
Playoff Chaos: Oblique Strains and Obvious Favorites
While the Giants are winning the "offseason" news cycle, the eight teams left in the dance are dealing with actual drama on the field. The Divisional Round kicks off tomorrow, and the injury reports coming out today are spicy.
The biggest scare? Sam Darnold.
The Seahawks quarterback popped up on the report with an oblique injury. He’s listed as questionable for Saturday’s clash against the 49ers. Darnold told reporters his chances of sitting out are "closer to zero," but anyone who has ever tried to throw a football with a strained oblique knows it’s not just about "toughing it out." If he can't rotate his torso, the Seahawks' Cinderella run ends in Santa Clara.
Meanwhile, the 49ers are getting healthier at the exact right time. Trent Williams is back to full participation. Having a Hall of Fame tackle protecting your blind side against a Seattle pass rush that has been surprisingly feisty is a massive advantage. However, keep an eye on safety Ji’Ayir Brown—he’s officially ruled out with a hamstring. That opens up the middle of the field for Seattle's Jaxon Smith-Njigba to cause some problems.
The Draft Declarations: Who's In and Who's Staying?
We also just passed the "soft" deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. The league released a list of 42 players granted special eligibility.
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One name that isn't on there? Dante Moore.
The Oregon QB decided to head back to school for another year. That’s a massive blow to teams like the Jets, who hold the No. 2 and No. 16 picks and were probably eyeing him as a potential franchise savior. Instead, the focus shifts to Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza. Mendoza is coming off a Heisman win and is about to play in the CFP National Championship against Miami on Monday. If he lights up the Hurricanes, he’s almost certainly the No. 1 overall pick.
The Jets are in a weird spot. They have the capital, but the QB class just got a lot thinner. They might end up having to look at Ty Simpson out of Alabama, who threw for over 3,500 yards last year with only a handful of interceptions.
Free Agency "Buyer Beware"
Even with the playoffs happening, the 2026 free agency buzz is starting to leak. Specifically, the warning bells are ringing for Isaiah Likely.
Look, Likely is a freak athlete. We saw it in that 2024 season opener where he went for over 100 yards. But since then? He’s been buried. In 2025, he had career lows in almost every category. Some analyst over at Bleacher Report basically called him the ultimate "trap" signing. A team is going to pay him like a TE1 this March, but his PFF grade of 56.4 tells a much scarier story.
Then you have the Aaron Rodgers situation in Pittsburgh. Mike Tomlin is gone. Rodgers is 42. Art Rooney II has already hinted that the marriage might be over. If Rodgers hits the market again, even at his age, the QB carousel is going to spin so fast it'll make your head hurt.
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What You Should Actually Watch For
If you are tracking NFL news for today, don't just look at the headlines. Look at the ripples.
The Giants hiring Harbaugh means the Titans and Falcons are now scrambling. They both wanted him. Now they have to pivot to guys like Kliff Kingsbury or maybe even a defensive coordinator like Jesse Minter from the Chargers.
Also, watch the Friday practice reports for the Rams. Jordan Whittington was a late addition with a knee issue. He’s a "full participant" for now, but those Friday downgrades are where seasons go to die.
Actionable Insights for the Weekend:
- Betting Note: If Darnold’s oblique limits his deep ball, the Under on Seattle's team total is a very tempting play.
- Roster Moves: If you’re a Giants fan, start looking at Baltimore’s impending free agents. Harbaugh loves "his guys," and you can bet a few Ravens veterans will be moving to East Rutherford.
- Draft Prep: Watch the Indiana vs. Miami game on Monday. It’s basically a three-hour scouting combine for the top of the 2026 draft.
The NFL never actually sleeps. Even when there aren't games on a Friday, the coaching moves and injury reports are shifting the tectonic plates of the league. Harbaugh to New York is a legacy-defining move for everyone involved. If it works, he’s a legend in two cities. If it fails, the Giants might actually be cursed.
Next Steps for Following the News:
- Check the final injury designations at 4:00 PM ET today to see if Sam Darnold or Jordan Whittington get downgraded to "Doubtful."
- Monitor the Giants' official social media for the introductory press conference schedule, likely set for Monday.
- Keep an eye on the "Reserve/Future" contract signings; the Jets just picked up Bailey Zappe, which might signal their lack of faith in the current QB market.