He enters the Summer of 2026 with 180 career victories to just 113 losses, for a sparkling .614 win percentage. Although his coaching background is anything but distinct, from an offensive-versus-defensive perspective, his culture-building ways have been celebrated time and again.
His 180 wins rank 14th all-time, while his .614 winning percentage places him 24th among those with at least 100 games coached, and 13th against those with at least 200 games experienced.
He has qualified for the NFL playoffs 12 times in 18 seasons, winning the division 6 times and recording 13 playoff victories. Most importantly, he’s a Super Bowl-winning head coach.
He is … the most interesting man in the world.
Wait, what? Let’s try that again…
He is … New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh.
It’s those bona fides that garner tremendous respect around the league. Moreover, it’s that respect, coupled with who he selected with the No. 5 pick in last month’s NFL draft, that should force New York Jets fans to at least evaluate things with a more critical eye.
Utter shock at No. 5
Although it was already written on the weekend of the most recent NFL draft, actual video evidence has since confirmed the belief: A figurative rocket was strapped to John Harbaugh’s backside the very moment the No. 4 pick was official.
Harbaugh’s reaction to the Tennessee Titans selecting wide receiver Carnell Tate says it all:
He simply could not believe it. Suddenly, the scenario for which only his dreams could produce was playing out in real time.
Yet, there he was, with disbelief plastered all over his face, with the opportunity to draft Ohio State defender Arvell Reese. And that’s precisely what he did.
While Harbaugh refused to step on the rake, he also needed some help.
The previously mentioned Titans selected Tate, a pick after the always-searching-for-something Arizona Cardinals tabbed Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love as the third-overall selection.
What preceded No. 3 is where the Jets are injected into the story — the unofficial start of the 2026 NFL draft.
A critical eye is necessary
As everybody is well aware, the New York Jets bypassed Arvell Reese for Texas Tech’s David Bailey. Though the debate raged on for months, Darren Mougey and company opted for the more traditional edge rusher over the versatile defender.
On the casual surface, the choice has hardly been challenged. It makes sense.
Think about it for a moment…
This is the offseason, the only time of the calendar year when Jets fans can showcase a semblance of optimism — at least as far as the last 15 years are concerned. Despite the world-renowned word on the street about the fanbase’s pessimism, few fans want to feature a miserable disposition when thinking and talking about their team.
This holds especially true in the offseason. Better yet, the level is raised during the NFL draft. There isn’t a fan in the world who wants to talk themselves into the idea that the wrong pick was made.
Look, I get it. I’m not here in the effort to convince you that the Jets made a no-good, horrible mistake at No. 2 — despite my very own objective evaluation favoring Reese by a wide margin, going as far as to label bypassing the man for Bailey as “football malpractice.”
Why I’m here instead deals more with the recognition and/or awareness of the current situation.
Respect
When a Hall of Fame-caliber head coach shows such genuine shock that three teams passed on a prospect, further consideration is at least warranted. Perhaps more importantly, rationalization isn’t required.
Those who believe Reese’s drop to No. 5 justifies the Jets’ decision are intentionally ignoring the reality of the situation. Playing into that narrative is akin to trusting the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans’ personnel decisions.
Even more interestingly, playing that card is equivalent to trusting the judgment of two coaches the Jets fired — Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur.
An alternative rationalization goes something like this: “Nobody knows what Harbaugh would have done had he picked at No. 2; perhaps he, too, would have taken Bailey over Reese.”
While nobody could prove their case either way, I’d bet serious money the Jints were honest when they claimed Reese was their top-ranked non-quarterback prospect in the entire class. Besides, only the most intense acting classes could produce utter disbelief in the way Harbaugh does in that war room video.
It was genuine, as were his words the moment he flew out of his seat…
“We got our guy,” Harbaugh said to John Mara. “You’re going to love this guy. You’re going to love this guy. You take my word for it.”
The lone ask
Belief born shortly after disbelief, coupled with conviction that never wavered — that’s the unofficial subtitle of this behind-the-scenes glimpse into the Giants’ war room when they selected Arvell Reese.
Nobody’s asking Jets fans to be pessimistic. Nobody wants anybody to rue the day the Jets selected David Bailey, or to suddenly believe he cannot make it in this league.
The only ask is this: Separate those who objectively attempt to call balls and strikes from those who play silly games. The actual football reasons why Reese is the superior prospect and player are many and well-documented.
Then, consider your surroundings, the backdrop that features an NFL draft media machine that celebrates every pick, every move, and pumps optimism throughout each of the 32 organizations, no matter the actual talent evaluations put forth and strategies deployed.
Only a balanced, aware mindset equips the New York Jets fan with enough gumption to at least raise an eyebrow. After all, if the genuine shock and amazement of a Hall of Fame-caliber head coach like John Harbaugh doesn’t do it, nothing will.
Lastly, anybody who believes the New York Giants will use Arvell Reese solely as an off-ball linebacker just isn’t paying attention to what’s happening in the modern NFL — given how elite-level defense is now played.
But hey, as ESPN’s Chris Berman uttered so often, so many years ago, “That’s why they play the game.”
