New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh took an unconventional path in his effort to bolster his roster, reaching out directly to Tennessee Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk to attempt to broker a trade for star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. In a break from standard NFL protocol, the Giants coach bypassed the usual front-office hierarchy after initial talks between general managers stalled.
Giants general manager Joe Schoen had previously spoken with Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, who informed New York and other inquiring teams that the 29-year-old All-Pro defensive tackle was not available. Refusing to take the general manager’s rejection as final, Harbaugh placed a call directly to Strunk to test ownership’s stance. Strunk initially echoed the front office’s refusal, though the organization’s posture shifted following a team meeting held by the 1-6 Titans.
Despite the opening created when Tennessee began listening to offers, the Giants ultimately missed out on acquiring Simmons. The Chicago Bears won the sweepstakes by packaging future draft assets, sending 2027 and 2028 first-round picks alongside a 2027 fourth-rounder to Tennessee in exchange for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
With the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaching, the first-place Giants continue to search the market for reinforcements to help solidify their interior defensive line. That need stems in part from a franchise-altering decision ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, when New York traded defensive standout Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for the No. 10 overall selection, which the team used to draft offensive lineman Sisi Mauigoa.
Beyond their missed bid for Simmons, the Giants have also expressed interest in Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. Indianapolis has emerged as one of the league’s most active sellers, having recently traded offensive lineman Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and defensive lineman DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.
The Giants currently sit at 4-2-1 and are on their bye week, holding a two-game advantage in the loss column over the 3-4 Dallas Cowboys ahead of Dallas’ matchup against Arizona. Meanwhile, NFC East rivals continue to battle through turbulent campaigns, with the Philadelphia Eagles standing at 2-5 and the Washington Commanders at 1-4-1 ahead of a prime-time clash where the loser faces mounting pressure regarding their outlook.
