Will Giants' John Harbaugh land Jonathan Taylor after chasing Jeffery Simmons?

Will Giants’ John Harbaugh land Jonathan Taylor after chasing Jeffery Simmons?

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New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh broke traditional NFL protocol by calling Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk directly in an aggressive, ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons ahead of the November 10 trade deadline, leaving the first-place club actively searching the market with Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor now in their sights.

John Harbaugh is not waiting for permission to rebuild the New York Giants. Managing everything from personnel decisions to game-day execution, the head coach launched a high-stakes, direct charm offensive this week that bypassed standard front-office channels. According to The Athletic, Harbaugh placed a direct phone call to Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk in a bold attempt to pry All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons away from a struggling franchise.

That unconventional gambit failed to sway Strunk or force a quick deal. Instead, Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi and Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles—two former colleagues from the Kansas City Foundation front office—hammered out a blockbuster agreement. The Titans shipped Simmons and a fifth-round pick to the Windy City in exchange for two coveted first-round selections and a fourth-rounder, leaving the Giants empty-handed in their quest for interior defensive line help.

The Direct-Dial Gamble and Front Office Fallout

Harbaugh’s decision to go straight to the owner’s suite sent shockwaves through league executive circles. While Giants general manager Joe Schoen had previously touched base with Borgonzi only to be rebuffed, Harbaugh’s refusal to accept a standard rejection turned a routine trade inquiry into a public spectacle. The move signaled deep impatience from a coach who leveraged Tennessee’s interest back in January to secure his lucrative contract in New York.

As ProFootballTalk reported, the Giants were fully prepared to outbid the Bears for Simmons. Yet, the public nature of Harbaugh’s phone call noticeably ruffled feathers among opposing general managers. It underscores a stark reality inside the Giants organization: this is not a traditional coaching setup where personnel decisions are left entirely to a separate front office while the coach simply diagrams plays.

The urgency stems directly from the standings. Sitting atop the NFC East at 4-2-1 during their bye week, the Giants recognize that divisional parity has left a clear opening. This pursuit of elite talent also highlights the lingering roster holes created earlier in the year. Back in the spring, New York traded star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick in April’s draft—subsequently used on offensive lineman Sisi Mauigoa, as noted by sports.yahoo.com—leaving a massive void in the trenches that management has been desperate to patch ever since.

Shifting Sights to Jonathan Taylor Before November 10

With Simmons now in Chicago, attention turns swiftly to the remaining assets on a ticking trade clock. The Nov. 10 deadline looms large, and the Giants remain aggressive big-game hunters. The biggest fish left on the open market is Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.

Will Giants' John Harbaugh land Jonathan Taylor after chasing Jeffery Simmons?
Photo: sports.yahoo.com

ESPN reports that the Giants, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks have all expressed interest in the star running back. According to The Ringer, at least one concrete offer featuring a second-round pick is already sitting on the table, though Indianapolis continues holding out for a richer return.

Can John Harbaugh Actually Save the Giants?

The running back situation carries a heavy layer of irony for New York fans. The organization willingly let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency at age 27, watching him cross town to star for the rival Philadelphia Eagles and capture a Super Bowl title. Now, Harbaugh is eyeing a potential trade for another expensive, 27-year-old running back to cement the Giants as outright favorites in the NFC East.

Indy has already proven willing to deal, shipping offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to Seattle and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers. With Chris Ballard out as general manager and interim GM Ed Dodds steering the ship alongside owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Harbaugh may need to dial a more traditional front-office number this time around. Whether that call yields a deal will dictate the final act of an already turbulent autumn in East Rutherford.

More on Jonathan Taylor: Colts RB Jonathan Taylor plans to stay the course in Indianapolis despite turbulent week · Jonathan Taylor trade rumors could spell trouble for fantasy football managers – NY Post · Broncos Linked to Jonathan Taylor Trade Rumors Amid 5-2 Start

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