John Harbaugh could've had his pick of any of the six head-coaching openings after being fired (excluding the Baltimore Ravens, the club that dismissed him). Heck, he had enough clout that at least one team without a vacancy reportedly contacted him.
Be that as it may, Harbaugh ultimately chose to become the 21st head coach of the New York Football Giants. While signs pointed to him landing in East Rutherford almost immediately upon his unceremonious exit from Baltimore, there are valid questions about the new partnership.
Well, despite the current situation, it's hardly a shock to retired Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz that Harbaugh preferred to join Big Blue.
Retired Giants star Victor Cruz explains exactly why John Harbaugh picked the Giants
Harbaugh is inheriting a messy situation with a general manager whose seat couldn't be hotter. The Giants have been a laughingstock for much of the past decade-plus. He's a Super Bowl champion, one of the winningest coaches in NFL history and turns 64 in September; what's appealing about a perpetually rebuilding squad?
In an exclusive interview with FanSided, Cruz explained how returning a storied franchise like the Giants to prominence was a selling point to Harbaugh.
"I wasn’t surprised at all. I think when you look at, obviously, the pedigree of the New York Giants and the history and the allure of playing in New York, and I’m sure part of him wants to be the one to bring that team and organization back in the conversation, back to relevancy on a major scale, and I think he wanted to take that challenge."Victor Cruz on John Harbaugh
By the sound of it, Harbaugh sees the beauty in the struggle. He ostensibly relishes the idea of turning the Giants into a contender again. Turning a downtrodden squad around, especially one with historic significance in a massive market like New York, can further cement his legendary status.
The Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders made for intriguing opportunities. They have the 2025 and presumed 2026 No. 1 overall picks in quarterbacks Cam Ward and Fernando Mendoza, respectively. Their clean payrolls, boasting the most and second-most cap space in the league, are also attractive.
Yet, as Cruz alluded to, representing an owner like John Mara and the bright lights of New York were too much to pass up. There's "a lot of upside" and untapped potential on the Giants' roster, and Harbaugh is excited for the challenge of translating that talent into production.
Note: Retired New York Giants wide receiver spoke on behalf of Discover Puerto Rico.