John Harbaugh's Titans Owner Call 'Not Well Received,' Schultz Says
Published Nov 10, 2026, 8:12 PM ET | By Vincent Rapisardi
Key points
Jordan Schultz said on WFAN that John Harbaugh's call to the Titans owner about Jeffery Simmons "was not well received" around the league.
Harbaugh confirmed on Nov. 2 that he left a voicemail for owner Amy Adams Strunk before Simmons was traded to Chicago.
The Giants made no trade before Tuesday's deadline, which Schultz said surprised him.
Giants coach John Harbaugh's direct call to the Titans' owner about Jeffery Simmons is still drawing reaction around the NFL. Jordan Schultz said Tuesday that the approach "was not well received," even as he praised how Harbaugh owned it.
Schultz made the comments on WFAN's Carton Show, and Big Blue Film Room shared them on X. They came after the trade deadline passed with no Giants deal.
The Athletic's Jonathan Jones first reported the call on Oct. 31, describing it as "an unusual move." We covered Harbaugh's call to the Titans owner that morning.
What Jordan Schultz Said About John Harbaugh's Call
A host framed the league's view of the call as "really not cool." Schultz agreed. "Correct, that was not well received," he said.
He also gave Harbaugh credit. "I liked how he handled it and he said, yeah, I did that," Schultz said, before adding, "it's not something you want to do."
His reasoning: going to an owner puts the general manager, in this case Mike Borgonzi, in a spot where he is undermined. "I haven't heard that one before and frankly was surprised about it," Schultz said.
Why John Harbaugh Went to Titans Ownership
Harbaugh confirmed on Nov. 2 that he left an unreturned voicemail for Strunk, the New York Post reported. "We're not part of any secret society oath that says you can only talk to somebody," he said.
That same day, he said the Giants were turning over every stone on trades.
Schultz pointed to history. Harbaugh, he said, "developed a relationship with them during the interview process."
The formal meeting never took place. Strunk, Borgonzi and Chad Brinker had a plane ready to interview Harbaugh in Baltimore in January before he canceled, Sports Illustrated reported. He became the Giants' coach instead.
By the Numbers: The John Harbaugh and Jeffery Simmons Timeline
Date | What happened |
Jan. 15 | Harbaugh cancels the Titans' in-person interview |
Oct. 29 | Titans trade Simmons to the Bears |
Oct. 31 | Jones reports Harbaugh called Strunk |
Nov. 2 | Harbaugh confirms the voicemail |
Nov. 10 | Deadline passes without a Giants trade |
Sources: Sports Illustrated on the January interview, SI's Albert Breer on the trade, Jonathan Jones on X, the New York Post and WFAN.
Chicago sent two first-round picks and a fourth-rounder for Simmons, a three-time All-Pro, and a 2028 fifth, Breer wrote.
Breer had already labeled Harbaugh's call "a little bit of a faux pas" on an SI video, as we detailed last week.
What the Quiet Deadline Means for the Giants
Schultz said he was "surprised, not shocked" that the Giants came away with nothing. Defensive tackle and running back were the two spots he knew they were targeting.
Schultz read the outcome as the Giants choosing not to mortgage their future, which he called "probably the prudent move."
The caveat: Schultz did not say the Strunk call cost the Giants a deal. He framed it as a break from the league's unwritten code.
The Giants are 5-2-1 and in first place, Schultz noted, and fans have "belief right now in John Harbaugh."
Our Take: John Harbaugh Can Make That Call
When I read Schultz's comments, my reaction was short: my coach is perfect and he can do whatever he wants.
When Harbaugh owned the voicemail on Nov. 2, I said I can't believe he's the head coach of the Giants. We are lucky.
When the call was first reported, I said John Harbaugh wants his Dexter Lawrence. He was chasing an interior force after the Giants traded Lawrence.
Schultz says it did not sit well around the league. He also liked how Harbaugh handled it, and Harbaugh never hid from it.
As I said last week, it's so cool having a head coach who is actually doing everything he can to make the roster better. The Giants are in first place, and it's actually insane how much John Harbaugh has changed the direction of this franchise.
Want more Giants coverage? Catch up on all of our latest articles here on the site, and follow @BigBlueFilmRoom on X for every Giants update as it breaks.
About Big Blue Film Room: Big Blue Film Room is an independent New York Giants news site delivering daily news, injury updates and game recaps. We credit and link to the original reporting behind every story, and we correct errors promptly under our Editorial Standards. Learn more about who we are and how we report on our About page.
Get Big Blue Film Room Daily
Every Giants story from yesterday in one free email at 7 AM ET.
Comments