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The Giants’ newly appointed head coach contemplated a reunion with Rex Ryan in New York.
During an in-depth discussion on Sunday, John Harbaugh revealed he had given serious thought to bringing former Jets head coach and current ESPN commentator, Rex Ryan, onboard as the Giants’ defensive coordinator.
“I had an extensive conversation with Rex regarding that position,” Harbaugh shared with Ian O’Connor from The Athletic. “Rex is someone I deeply admire and hold in high regard.”
Ultimately, Harbaugh chose to appoint Dennard Wilson as the defensive coordinator. Wilson, the former Titans defensive coordinator, previously worked under Harbaugh in 2023 as the Ravens’ defensive backs coach.
Ryan, who guided the Jets to two AFC Championship appearances during his six-season tenure from 2009 to 2014, has not taken up an NFL coaching role since being dismissed by the Bills with one game left in his second season in Buffalo back in 2016. Before his stint with the Jets, Ryan was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator in 2008, Harbaugh’s inaugural year as head coach in Baltimore.
Harbaugh also opted to go with the 43-year-old Wilson over another former Ravens position coach — former Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Broncos assistant head coach Jim Leonhard for the DC position.
He also hired former Ravens assistants Chris Horton as the Giants’ new special teams coordinator and Willie Taggart as their running backs coach, respectively.
Harbaugh also was instrumental in the hiring of Dawn Aponte — the NFL’s chief administrative officer — as the Giants’ senior VP of football operations and strategy. She will be responsible for analytics, salary-cap management and player contract negotiations, and will report directly to Harbaugh, according to The Athletic report.
Harbaugh’s first choice to be the team’s offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, landed the head-coaching gig with the Browns, but Harbaugh added in the interview that he believes Matt Nagy will work out just as well.
“Of course. Of course. I expect Matt to be the best ever,” Harbaugh said. “I’m hoping he’ll be the best offensive coordinator to ever coach the game; that’s what we’re shooting for.”