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Has an NFL Football Coach Ever Been Asked This Question?

Matt Vespa
Matt Vespa  |  January 23, 2026 6:00 AM

There’s been a lot happening this week: Trump traveled to Davos and slapped the elites around again, we’re on Iran bomb watch, Jack Smith testified before Congress, and we got the early makings of a deal on Greenland. It’s going to take some time, just like the nail-biting 48 hours that followed when the New York Football Giants announced they were hiring John Harbaugh as their next coach. It was made official last Saturday, before the first slate of NFL divisional playoff games, with a press conference that occurred on January 20. And yes, one of the questions involved Donald J. Trump.

Has this question ever been asked? I’m not sure—I don’t think there’s been a sitting president that openly endorsed someone for a coaching job. President Donald J. Trump was quite adamant that the Giants hire Harbaugh, who became available after being fired from the Baltimore Ravens after 18 years. 

His introductory remarks at the press conference weren’t long; his resume speaks for itself. When he was asked about having Trump’s endorsement, Harbaugh said, “It was really great,” with a smile. Harbaugh also quipped that he noticed the other part of Trump’s post, where the president said, “John, take the job,’ and added he thought John Mara, one of the franchise’s owners, might have something to do with it. 

“But, it’s cool, and it’s sports,” Harbaugh added. 

Harbaugh was giving Giants Nation agita for days since the deal wasn’t inked, despite a verbal agreement. With his experience, this isn’t a normal hire. Harbaugh wanted serious changes to the organization and wanted that in writing. The Giants, known for being stuck in their ways, despite a decade of miserable football, were reluctant but reportedly gave in, agreeing to a structure like Baltimore, where the head coach and general manager report to ownership. It’s a relief that ‘The Giants Way’ needed to change, with Chris Mara, senior vice president of player personnel, who has taken over some duties as his brother, John, undergoes cancer treatments, saying afterward that Harbaugh was likely the only candidate they’d consider making these changes, and they did. Still, Mara and General Manager Joe Schoen tried to play down the changes, while also noting their significance.  

Mr. Mara said Harbaugh was a crucial cog in the process, while Schoen added that it’ll be a collaborative effort, downplaying the command structure as something on paper. It’s quite obvious that’s not the case, and if there is a disagreement on roster construction, for example, Harbaugh most definitely has final say. It’s also clear that the man has the power to make any changes he wants, and he’s doing that right now. A lot of people within the organizations, lifers, are getting shipped out, most notably Kevin Abrams, a 30-year veteran in the front office who was viewed as untouchable. And more changes are coming:

These restructures can be tough, but necessary, and the Giants are out of excuses at this point. You must retool big league, because it’s been a nightmare for the past decade.  

They seem to be doing that.