John Harbaugh may be looking for a ‘side report’ on ownership with Joe Schoen

From the moment Giant executive Chris Mara spoke to TheAthletic.com’s Ian O’Connor about a Previously secret informal lunch between Mara and coach John Harbaugh, it appeared that Giants ownership was determined to hire Harbaugh. And general manager Joe Schoen’s absence from the session raised eyebrows about whether and to what extent the man supposed to lead the coaching search had been undermined by it.

Coincidence or not, O’Connor reports (in a casual and roundabout way) that Harbaugh “needs a parallel relationship” to the property, alongside Schoen. Which would explain the current delay in finalizing Harbaugh’s contract.

Here is the Friday evening tweet from O’Connor: “The Giants have never hired a HC as accomplished as John Harbaugh, including Dan Reeves (lower winning % without ring). If he needs a side report with Joe Schoen at Maras to close the game, so be it. The ball is on the 1-yard line. Give it to (Cam) Skattebo and we’ll see you Tuesday.”

The Giants generally use a structure in which the general manager is above the coach in the organizational chart. If Harbaugh’s arrangement deviates from that approach, Schoen’s contract will likely require an adjustment to reflect his changed powers.

It’s not surprising, if O’Connor’s suggestion is correct, that Harbaugh (a 63-year-old 18-year-old head coach with Super Bowl skin on the wall) wouldn’t want to report to Schoen, a 46-year-old general manager with four years of experience. After reaching the playoffs with a 9-7-1 record in Schoen’s first season, the Giants went 13-38. Over the last three years, Harbaugh was 33-18 – and was fired for it.

The Harbaugh prosecution as a whole was marked by an ownership-driven effort. Schoen (as anyone in his situation would) had a more natural inclination to seek out a coach who would accept the existing structure: GM runs the show, coach reports to the GM. If Harbaugh’s arrival changes that, the delay in his contract negotiations makes perfect sense.

From Schoen’s perspective, giving away a little power in order to have a proven head coach has significant benefits. Harbaugh could do well enough to keep Schoen in place for years to come, as Broncos coach Sean Payton did for general manager George Paton, who traded and prematurely gave a market-ill-advised contract to quarterback Russell Wilson.

The rising tide will lift all boats. Unless, of course, there’s a chance Harbaugh tries to parlay his initial success into an argument that, with a different general manager, the Giants could become a potential Super Bowl winner.

This is the leap of faith Schoen will have to take. Assuming he really has a choice in the matter. If ownership wants Harbaugh, ownership will get him.

For now, all we can do is wait. And would like a coaching-carousel edition of Hard knocks featuring the Giants.