Trump Endorses New Giants Coach John Harbaugh

Harbaugh says he was surprised by Trump's public support and 'loved' meeting the president at the White House.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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John Harbaugh, the newly hired head coach of the New York Giants, revealed that he was surprised when former President Donald Trump publicly endorsed him for the job. Harbaugh also said he and his family "loved" meeting Trump and his team at the White House, calling the experience "awesome" and "pretty cool."

Why it matters

Harbaugh's endorsement from the former president is an unusual development in the world of professional sports, where coaches and players typically try to avoid overt political affiliations. The endorsement could raise questions about the relationship between politics and sports, as well as how Harbaugh's political ties may impact his tenure with the Giants.

The details

During an interview with Fox News, Harbaugh recounted how his phone started "bing, bing, bing" with notifications after Trump urged the Giants to hire him. Harbaugh said he was surprised by the president's public support, noting "it was crazy" that the former president was weighing in on his coaching career. Harbaugh also discussed a recent visit to the White House with his family, saying they "loved it" and "loved meeting President Trump" and his team.

  • Harbaugh was let go as the Baltimore Ravens head coach at the conclusion of the 2025-2026 NFL season.
  • Harbaugh was recently hired as the new head coach of the New York Giants.

The players

John Harbaugh

The newly hired head coach of the New York Giants, who previously served as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for 18 seasons.

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States, who publicly endorsed Harbaugh for the Giants head coaching job.

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What they’re saying

“It did surprise me, it was crazy,”

— John Harbaugh, New York Giants Head Coach (Fox News)

“We loved it, we loved meeting President Trump. We loved all of his group. It was awesome, it was pretty cool. I mean, it just goes to show you how blessed we are to do something like this.”

— John Harbaugh, New York Giants Head Coach (Fox News)

What’s next

It remains to be seen how Harbaugh's political ties may impact his tenure with the Giants, and whether the endorsement from the former president will have any lasting effects on the team or the NFL.

The takeaway

Harbaugh's endorsement from the former president is an unusual development in the world of professional sports, raising questions about the relationship between politics and sports. While Harbaugh seems to have embraced the endorsement, it remains to be seen how it will impact his coaching career and the team he now leads.