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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh reacted to President Donald Trump’s support Tuesday as he was formally introduced to the media in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
PK Press Club Digital asked Harbaugh what it felt like to receive the president’s endorsement.
“It’s really awesome,” Harbaugh said with a huge smile. “I also noticed on this message that it said: ‘And John, take the job!’ So, I thought maybe John Mara had something to do with it. I don’t know. But it’s cool.
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New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the NFL Football Practice Facility. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
“It’s sports. Everybody’s excited. Everybody follows it. At every level, people follow football. They follow the Giants. They follow the National Football League. Like we said, it’s the greatest sport. It’s the most iconic franchise in the greatest sport. So, here we are.”
Trump again had glowing words to say about the former Baltimore Ravens head coach as he spoke to the White House press corps before returning to Washington, D.C., following the College Football National Championship.
He said he didn’t think he had any influence on the decision, but added that the Giants had a “great coach.”
“I love the coach. I love his brother,” he said. “They came to see me about three months ago. They came to see me at the White House with their mom and dad because mom likes me, and dad likes me and I think they like me.
“And he’s a great coach and he’s going to do well with the Giants, just like his brother does so well. They have something very special in their blood. And I’m happy for the Giants. They have a great coach.”
TRUMP REACTS TO GIANTS HIRING JOHN HARBAUGH AS HEAD COACH AFTER APPROVEMENT
New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh speaks to the media after being introduced during a press conference at the NFL Football Practice Facility. The event took place in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. (Adam Hunger/AP Photo)
Trump first supported Harbaugh in an article on Truth Social, then later specifically endorsed the idea of the Giants hiring him.
“The New York Football Giants should hire, without a doubt, John Harbaugh – and John, a great guy, should TAKE THE JOB!!!” he wrote earlier this month.
John and Jim Harbaugh and their families met with Trump at the White House this summer. The meeting led Harbaugh to defend himself after a reporter asked a question about the visit surrounding Trump’s previous comments criticizing Baltimore as a city.
“How did you phrase that question — I would have phrased that question like, ‘You had a chance to go visit the president, man. How was that experience?'” Harbaugh said at the time. “It was amazing. It was awesome. And I promise you, I support our president. I want our president to succeed, just like I want my quarterback to succeed, and I want my team to succeed, and it was an incredible experience. It’s not often you get invited and you get a chance to do something like this as a family.”
Jim Harbaugh echoed his brother’s sentiments.
“There’s a lot of gratitude there to be invited to the White House to meet the president with my family, my mom and dad. President Trump was just wonderful to my mom and dad. It meant so much. My brother John, his daughter Allison, my two daughters, Addie and Katie, and my sister Joanie, and my niece Ainsley. So there were nine of us and it was great.”
President Donald Trump visits the Ford River Rouge Resort January 13, 2026 in Dearborn, Michigan. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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The Ravens made the playoffs 12 times under Harbaugh and won the Super Bowl in the 2012 season, a year after the Giants’ last championship.
