Jack Kelly, Former Cougars Star Linebacker, Selected by New York Giants in Sixth Round at No. 193 Overall

Brigham Young University linebacker Jack Kelly was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft with the 193rd overall pick.

The selection took place on April 25, 2026, marking the Giants’ first draft pick of a BYU player since Bryan Kehl was chosen in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Kelly, a two-year team captain at BYU, started all 25 games he played for the Cougars after transferring from Weber State, where he played in 28 games and recorded 85 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and 16 sacks.

I think Jack is going to have an amazing career in the NFL,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “Jack is one of the most versatile linebackers in the country. Not a lot of linebackers can pressure the quarterback like he does in the pass rush but also drop in coverage and play his zones and man coverage with such great skill. He is also a complete player in the run game, whether playing at the line of scrimmage or at linebacker depth. He reminds me a lot of what Fred Warner can do.”

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake

During his senior season in 2025, Kelly was named an All-Big 12 First Team selection and led BYU in sacks with 10, contributing to a team total of 30 sacks — the highest for the program since 2015. He finished the year with 55 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a pass breakup, and seven quarterback hurries.

Kelly has explosive speed and plays both instinctively and physically against the run, although his stiff movements could limit his upside in coverage versus NFL athletes,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote about Kelly in his “The Beast” NFL draft preview.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler

Over his collegiate career spanning BYU and Weber State, Kelly accumulated 190 total tackles, including 125 solo stops, 43.5 tackles for loss, and 31.5 sacks. He also recorded nine forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, eight pass breakups, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown.

Kelly, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 240 pounds, graduated with a degree in Business Management. He is an older brother to sister Grace and grew up competing in BMX dirt track racing, where he was a champion.

With his selection, Kelly becomes the 82nd BYU player to be drafted in rounds one through six and the 13th former Cougar to be selected in the sixth round. The last BYU player taken in the sixth round was offensive lineman Dustin Rykert by the Raiders in the 2003 NFL Draft.

The Giants announced the pick via their official social media accounts, posting a message that read: “We’re ready for you, Jack,” accompanied by a photo of Kelly in a Giants jersey.