Harbaugh’s unorthodox outreach for Jeffery Simmons
The New York Giants explored a potential trade for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons this week, and The Athletic reported that head coach John Harbaugh even called Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk to try to coax a deal.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen had already spoken with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, who initially told the Giants such a trade would not happen; after that conversation went nowhere, Harbaugh reportedly called owner Amy Adams Strunk, who initially delivered the same message, though the report says the Titans later held a meeting this week and began listening to offers for Simmons.
The Bears ultimately completed the trade for Simmons, sending the Titans two first-round picks. Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he had been told Simmons was not available for trade until Borgonzi reversed course this week.
Why the Giants traded Dexter Lawrence and what followed
Earlier this year the Giants traded Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick.
Lawrence, who was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals before the season in exchange for a 2026 first-round pick, left a notable vacancy on New York’s interior defensive line. The team’s subsequent effort to pursue Simmons — who was dealt to the Chicago Bears — underscores the priority the Giants placed on upgrading the position.
Organizational friction and ongoing roster work
The Athletic’s reporting framed Harbaugh’s direct outreach as a break from standard protocol, suggesting the action risked tension inside the Giants’ decision-making structure. The Athletic also floated that Mike Borgonzi might have bristled at a coach going over his head to an opposing owner and that Harbaugh could face fallout for bypassing the front office; those characterizations were presented as speculation in the reporting.
Sources indicate the Titans shifted course after an internal meeting and began listening to offers for Simmons. The Giants did not complete a trade before the Nov. 10 deadline and remain active in roster conversations, with reported interest in other upgrades including a running back target.
Taken together, the Lawrence trade and the Simmons pursuit paint a picture of a franchise willing to make bold moves to reshape its front seven. Whether the unorthodox tactics pay dividends long-term or create internal strain will be a storyline to monitor as the trade deadline decisions crystallize.
