The Baltimore Ravens made the decision to dismiss their head coach, John Harbaugh, on January 6, with plans to offer a hefty $34 million severance package. However, the financial burden on Baltimore may be significantly reduced since Harbaugh swiftly secured a new position with the New York Giants just 11 days later. Reports indicate that seven NFL teams were eager to acquire Harbaugh’s expertise, but ultimately, it was the Giants who succeeded in landing him.

Initial terms of the agreement between Harbaugh and the Giants were reached on January 14, though the official signing was delayed until January 17 due to some intense contract discussions. Interestingly, these negotiations were not centered around salary, despite Harbaugh’s lucrative nine-figure deal with the Giants.

Sources reveal that Harbaugh accepted a five-year contract valued at $100 million, positioning him alongside Andy Reid as the highest-paid coach in the NFL, earning $20 million annually. This year, Reid’s Kansas City Chiefs missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014, a period during which they have claimed three Super Bowl titles.

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Harbaugh’s own Super Bowl triumph came during the 2012 season in a game famously interrupted by a power outage, which also featured a clever Oreo advertisement. Since then, the Ravens have not returned to the Super Bowl. However, they have had more recent success than the Giants, whose last championship win was in the prior season.

Since their 2011 season, the Giants have cycled through six different head coaches, claimed just one playoff victory, and have yet to capture another NFC East title. They are hopeful that Harbaugh’s leadership will change their fortunes.

The primary reason for the delay in finalizing the contract revolved around clarifying the reporting structure. During his 18-year tenure with the Ravens, Harbaugh reported directly to team owner Steve Bisciotti. He sought a similar arrangement with the Giants to ensure a streamlined chain of command.

Traditionally, the Giants’ chain of command goes from coach to general manager to owner. But the team was willing to acquiesce to Harbaugh’s demands, and he’ll report directly to co-owner John Mara.

Now, Harbaugh is tasked with building out his staff and helping the Giants get back to glory. The team finished 4-13 and has the fifth overall pick in this year’s draft. Over the past decade and a half, it’s been a lot of pain and long seasons. Giants fans are jubilant now, and they hope they’ll be watching some meaningful games come next January.