The Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens experienced the end of a pair of eras when Mike Tomlin stepped down from his head-coaching post and John Harbaugh was fired from his. The two had battles against one another spanning the course of nearly 20 years. It was a phenomenal run for the duo, as both were able to experience Super Bowl championships during their respective tenures. Now, Tomlin is off the grid as he enjoys his first relaxing offseason in quite some time, while Harbaugh prepares to jump right back into the thick of things as the leader of the New York Giants.
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Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) and former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (right) meet near midfield to shake hands after a professional football game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, MD.
Pittsburgh was finally set to get a break from playing against Harbaugh. New York is not on the Steelers' 2026 schedule, but the preseason slate has yet to be announced by the NFL. Something interesting came to light on Wednesday however, that could trigger the Steel City hosting the Giants and Harbaugh much sooner than anyone expected.
According to the New York Post's Paul Schwartz, the World Cup, which is set to take place in North America, is affecting the Giants' upcoming preparations for the 2026 campaign. The team also has construction underway at its facility, and the current chain of events has led to the franchise deciding that the best course of action for training camp is to relocate.
"Ongoing construction for upgrades at the team facility and the presence of FIFA in advance of World Cup games at MetLife Stadium will force Harbaugh’s first camp to hit the road, and the Giants will venture all the way to West Virginia for the start of their camp this summer, The Post has learned," Schwartz wrote.
Geographically, this location is a couple of hours closer to Pittsburgh than where the Giants normally are. In fact, the training camp for New York will be one of the closer ones taking place to where the Steelers practice in Latrobe. This immediately presents the opportunity for the two franchises to not just face off in the preseason, but also conduct a joint practice. With them being separated by just a little over four hours, it's extremely doable.
"The Giants will spend what is expected to be the first two weeks of camp in White Sulfur Springs, training and staying at the famous Greenbrier Resort, a national historic landmark among the Allegheny Mountains," Schwartz reported.
The two teams haven't played against one another in a preseason matchup since 2017, but the option will be there due to location, and the Steelers' familiarity with Harbaugh. Albeit just an exhibition contest, the league will still look to make some kind of interesting storylines present as fans get ready for the regular season that ramps up in September.
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Former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) and former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (right) talk on the field prior to a competitive matchup in Pittsburgh, PA.
The league didn't match up the Houston Texans and the Steelers for a preseason game in 2025 when Houston held its training camp in West Virginia, but that doesn't mean the Harbaugh versus Pittsburgh angle won't come up in conversation. It would be quite ironic if the veteran coach's first game with New York came against, and in, Pittsburgh.
This kind of decision wouldn't just be a fascinating storyline, but it would also give football fans an image of Harbaugh in his new colors, while competing against the Steelers, despite Tomlin not being on the opposing sideline. The contest wouldn't matter as far as records and postseason aspirations go; however, it would be a fun little marketing move by the NFL.
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Former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (left) and former Steelers head coach (Mike Tomlin) greet each other near midfield after a professional football game in Pittsburgh, PA.
Steelers Are Happy That Harbaugh Is Out Of The Division
Tomlin leaving quickly gave Pittsburgh a disadvantage in the AFC North. Despite not winning a playoff game in almost 10 years, he was lauded as one of the league's best. The good news for the Steelers was that only one coach within the division remained when it was all said and done after the 2025 campaign. Now, there will be new rivalries born, but the fans in the Steel City may have to deal with Harbaugh in a more timely manner than many thought.
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