On Tuesday evening, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that seven teams had reached out to John Harbaugh’s agent to gauge his interest in becoming their head coach after he’d been fired by the Ravens.
With only seven vacancies — including the Ravens — at least one team that currently has a head coach was among that group.
While some assumed that team was Miami, one veteran reporter says that is not the case.
According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, as of late Wednesday morning, the Dolphins had not reached out to or engaged with Harbaugh in any way.
Jackson notes that could change, as Harbaugh going through the interview process with other teams will take some time.
For now, Mike McDaniel remains Miami’s head coach. Last year at this time, however, team owner Stephen Ross released a statement noting that McDaniel and now-former General Manager Chris Grier would continue in their roles. No such statement has been released in regards to McDaniel this offseason.
Miami finished 2025 7-10. McDaniel has now accumulated a 35-33 record as Dolphins head coach in four seasons with two postseason appearances.
With six vacancies (other than the Ravens) and seven teams calling former Ravens coach John Harbaugh after his dismissal on Tuesday, at least one team without a vacancy made the call.
So which team(s) called? (It’s possible that more than one team without an opening called, if at least one of the teams currently looking for a coach did not.)
Here’s a look at the possibilities. And don’t blame us for doing it; Harbaugh’s agent lit the fuse by disclosing that seven teams called.
Jets: By all appearances, first-year coach Aaron Glenn lost the locker room. The final five games, with a minus-137 point differential (27.4 per game), was arguably the worst stretch ever for a franchise with plenty of rough spots. Still, owner Woody Johnson has shown no inclination to fire Glenn — and to owe him more than $40 million to not coach the team.
Dolphins: Michigan man Stephen Ross once pursued Michigan man Jim Harbaugh while the Dolphins still had a coach under contract. Why wouldn’t Ross make the call about Harbaugh’s brother, given the currently tenuous status of Mike McDaniel?
Bills: What if the Bills lose this weekend? Is it crazy to think the Bills would consider making a change? That said, swapping out one coach who failed to get to the Super Bowl during the prime years of a generational talent for another coach who failed to get to the Super Bowl during the prime years of a generational talent seems odd.
Steelers: If the team thinks Mike Tomlin, who seems to have a TV offer in his back pocket, could be leaving after the playoff run ends, it needs to be thinking about the next coach. Why not Harbaugh?
Bengals: There’s no way Mike Brown will finance Zac Taylor’s buyout and pay whatever it would take to get Harbaugh.
Colts: Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has said Shane Steichen will be back. Could she view Harbaugh as an upgrade who may not be available if a change is made in 2027?
Chiefs: Andy Reid will be back for 2026. The phone call (if it happened) may have been as simple as, “Keep us in mind if you’re thinking about taking a year off and returning in 2027.”
Cowboys: See the Chiefs.
Commanders: Dan Quinn’s team badly regressed in 2025. Why wouldn’t owner Josh Harris at least consider the possibility of an upgrade to Harbaugh?
Packers: New team president Ed Policy made it clear in June that it’s an up-or-out year for coach Matt LaFleur and G.M. Brian Gutekunst. Could Policy have wanted to let Harlan (the son of former Packers CEO Bob Harlan) know that there may be a reason to let the wild-card round play out before making any decisions?
Buccaneers: There’s a vague sense still lingering that ownership could make a coaching change. Harbaugh’s availability could be the thing that pushes the Bucs off the fence.
At least one of those teams made the call. Maybe more than one. And if one of those teams fires its head coach in the coming days, it could be the first step toward hiring John Harbaugh.
The Dolphins have added another name to their list of General Manager candidates.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that they have requested an interview with Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander.
Alexander joined the Chargers after they hired head coach John Harbaugh and General Manager Joe Hortiz ahead of the 2024 season. He was previously the Jets’ director of player personnel and spent his first two decades in the NFL in the Ravens’ organization.
The Dolphins have also requested interviews with 49ers vice president of player personnel Tariq Ahmad, Eagles assistant GM Alec Halaby, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, 49ers director of scouting and football operations Josh Williams, and 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen this week. Interim GM Champ Kelly is also expected to interview for the position.
The Cardinals are expected to interview Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph for their head coaching vacancy this week and two more candidates from that side of the ball are also on their list of candidates.
Albert Breer of SI.com reports that the Cardinals have requested permission to interview 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that they have also requested an interview with Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
Saleh returned to the 49ers after spending three-plus seasons as the head coach of the Jets. Saleh was 20-36 during his time with the AFC East club.
Weaver’s name has also come up as part of the Falcons’ head coaching search. He has been on Mike McDaniel’s staff for the last two seasons and has also worked for the Ravens, Texans, Browns, Bills and Jets.
Blame it on Tom Brady.
Actually, blame it on Fox and the NFL for allowing Tom Brady to wear two hats that shouldn’t fit on one head.
With neither Fox or the NFL willing to say “no” to Brady’s dual role as lead NFL game analyst and a minority Raiders owners, others are going to try to double dip.
Last week, it was ESPN’s Troy Aikman, whose side hustle as a consultant for the Dolphins drew barely a holiday-week shrug. Now, CBS’s Matt Ryan reportedly hopes to keep his seat at the Sunday pregame desk while serving as the Falcons’ eventual president of football operations.
If Brady can do it, why can’t Aikman? If Aikman can’t do it, why can’t Ryan?
While folks seem to be noticing — and criticizing — the undeniable conflict of interest more fervently than they did a year ago, when many were acting like it was no big deal for Brady and a few were straining to play the “whatabout” game as to those who dared to point out the obvious conflict between the two functions, it’s too late to do anything about it.
Fox didn’t say no to Brady. ESPN didn’t say no to Aikman. CBS might not say no to Ryan.
So do your thing. Get paid. Ignore the ethical dilemma. Do what you want. When you want. How you want.
The question isn’t whether it will end. The question is which broadcaster will do it next?
Maybe I should quit talking about it and start looking for a way to do it myself.
