Exclusive | Chris Mara takes The Post inside Giants John Harbaugh recruitment and the shock to everybody it included

Chris Mara, the Giants’ senior VP of player personnel and brother of team CEO John Mara, takes a timeout for an exclusive Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.Q: How proud are you for recruiting and helping land John Harbaugh? A: At the time, I really didn’t think it was that big a deal.I was going based on what both ownership’s wishes were.

It certainly was my idea to do it, and everybody gave me their blessing.There was some outside noise about getting my ass down there [Harbaugh’s house in Baltimore area].  Get texts from Paul Schwartz with all the latest Giants news and insights, exclusive to Sports+ subscribers.

Q: Outside noise? A: That was [Tom] Coughlin when I had my conversation with him, but I was the one that told him I was going, and he was very happy about that (laugh). Q: Why did you think it was important to go? A: Because I knew there were three or four other teams out there.We had to make contact with him first.

John [Mara] wanted to come with me, but he was going through his [cancer] treatment and stuff back then. Q: What do you remember thinking on the car ride down? A: I was thinking I never met this friggin’ guy before, he might think I’m the biggest a–hole in the world! (laugh).I’m sure he had made phone calls and all this, and I’m thinking, “Man, what does my Google page say? Because he’s probably Googling me right now.

This guy’s a horse racing guy, who is he?” Q: Your trip back? A: I called my brother John first.I told him how I thought it went really good, and I relayed the message that he said to me, “The Giants are my first choice.” And I said the same thing to Steve Tisch. Q: What was John’s reaction? A: He was ecstatic.

… The first thing he said: “You’re s–tting me.” I go, “No I’m not.” I told him, “John, I’m 90 percent sure he’s going to be our next coach.” He was ecstatic, and he says, “What do we do next?” I just old him, “Hang on.Just hang on.” �...