The New York Giants have been left furious with the Atlanta Falcons after the team announced they had completed an interview with John Harbaugh.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Harbaugh, who was fired by the Ravens, is on the verge of signing a five-year, nine-figure contract to take charge of the Giants.
However, as Giants fans waited with bated breath for an update on the deal, the Falcons announced on Monday that they had also interviewed Harbaugh.
It was later revealed to be an explanatory phone call with the former Ravens head coach, which the 63-year-old also conducted with a number of other teams.
According to The Athletic, the Falcons’ decision to ‘overplay’ their interactions with Harbaugh did not sit well with those in East Rutherford.
Ian O’Connor, a reporter for the outlet, revealed: ‘This was the day I realized the Giants would not be denied on John Harbaugh,.
Harbaugh is going to sign a five-year contract worth nearly $100million with the Giants
‘They were not happy with the Falcons overplaying a phoner with Harbaugh as an official interview (they weren’t alone) and Chris Mara went on the record with this.’
He also claimed that Giants owner Mara revealed that Harbaugh had an informal lunch at Harbaugh’s house on Sunday before his formal interview later in the week.
The 63-year-old interviewed in person with the Giants on Wednesday, spending hours at the team facility in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He was flown in on the private jet of part-owner Steve Tisch.
Then he was treated to a delicious dinner at Elia, a restaurant the Giants have used a number of times to get major deals over the line, where general manager Joe Schoen and owner Chris Mara made their final pitch to the Super Bowl winner.
More to follow…
