Now that John Harbaugh is finalizing an agreement to become the next head coach of the New York Giants, the former NFL Coach of the Year and Super Bowl Champion will have the opportunity to recruit an all-star coaching staff.
After 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, you would think Harbaugh would be able to pull some strings and bring in some of the league’s top coordinators and assistant coaches. Who wouldn’t want to be on the staff assembled by one of the NFL’s most well-respected active head coaches?
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken is expected to follow Harbaugh to the Giants and become the franchise’s offensive coordinator. With several notable players on defense, and the Giants dealt a bad hand last season with Shane Bowen, many are wondering who the 63-year-old will hire as Big Blue’s next defensive coordinator.
John Harbaugh New York Giants could hire Jim Leonhard or Anthony Weaver as their next DC
Two names have stood out as potential candidates for the Giants’ vacant defensive coordinator position, and either one would be a significant upgrade from Bowen, who coached the defensive unit that blew several games last season, such as their losses against the Broncos, 49ers, Bears, and Lions.
The first defensive coordinator candidate that Harbaugh could bring onto his staff with the Giants is Jim Leonhard. Leonhard played defensive back at Wisconsin and, after going undrafted in 2005, spent time with several NFL teams, including the Ravens, where he played under Harbaugh in 2008.
Following his playing career, he returned to Wisconsin, where he worked his way up from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator and then, eventually, interim head coach in 2022 following Paul Chryst’s firing. Since 2024, he’s been a part of Sean Payton’s staff with the Denver Broncos and currently serves as the assistant head coach and defensive pass game coordinator.
Another name to look out for is Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Like Leonhard, Weaver also played for the Ravens, although it wasn’t under Harbaugh. However, Weaver is connected to the longtime Ravens head coach because he’s previously worked for him.
Before becoming the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator in 2024, he served as the Ravens’ defensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2021 and was promoted to assistant head coach for the ‘22 and ‘23 seasons. With Miami searching for its next head coach, a reunion for Harbaugh could be in the cards.
Connor Hughes of SNY reported that Weaver is among the candidates that Harbaugh is targeting for the Giants' defensive coordinator position.
Regardless of who Harbaugh decides to hire, it’s crucial that they put a focus on unlocking Abdul Carter’s potential, which Bowen failed to do, but interim DC Charlie Bullen succeeded at late in the season and now may land a job. It’s also important that they work with some of the other stars on that defensive line, like Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
For that reason, Weaver could be the hire that makes the most sense, given his experience working with Harbaugh specifically on the defensive line and his experience as a DC in the NFL, but Leonhard might also be able to correct some of New York’s issues in the secondary and develop a player like Caleb Downs, should the Giants draft him with the fifth overall pick.
You can make the case for either candidate to become the Giants’ DC under Harbaugh, but now it’s time for Big Blue’s new head coach to start making some calls and assembling his staff.