During an appearance on SportsGrid’s Outspoken with former Miami teammate Dan Sileo, Hurricanes' legend Michael Irvin eviscerated ESPN for the graphics they chose under edge rusher Rueben Bain when he was chosen 15th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2026 NFL Draft first round.
Irvin was upset that ESPN chose to post that Bain had the shortest arm length for an edge rusher selected in the first round since 2003, per Awful Announcing. ESPN should have focused more on Bain leading Miami to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and his sack totals than his arm length, per Irvin.
Irvin has frequently elicited criticism for his bold support of Miami. A constant presence on the Miami sideline during games, Irvin is always outspoken in his opinions, particularly as it relates to Miami. Irvin and Miami are always a polarizing presence in college football.
The draft brought together Irvin as one of the most well known alums in the history of the Miami football program, a Pro Football Hall of Famer who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys and someone that went through the draft process as a first round pick in 1988.
Micheal Irvin was upset with the ESPN Graphics that popped up when Rueben Bain was drafted. pic.twitter.com/yE40d9KBdL
— Grant Reacts (@GrantReacts1) April 28, 2026
"“They don’t ever stop trying to somehow, someway assault us...And it was absolutely classless and uncalled for. When Rueben Bain’s name got called, this is one of the greatest moments of your life. You’re gonna look back at this tape all the time and watch that year you got drafted.Michael Irvin
And ESPN, these mother… when he was walking, did you see the infobar? It had his arm length. I said, ‘Are you sh*tting me? You’re supposed to have a highlight here, not a lowlight! Not something that everybody’s been talking about, that has made this man’s value fall down.”"
How it could have been handled differently
Bain was the second Miami player selected in the 2026 NFL Draft and the third edge rusher. Former Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa was the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The New York Jets selected David Bailey from Texas Tech and Arvell Reese of Ohio State went fifth to the Giants as the edge rushers ahead of Bain.
Irvin has had a long career in media after he retired from the NFL in 2000. Stints in media for Irvin included working for the NFL Network as an analyst on NFL GameDay Morning and NFL Total Access, on ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown, First Take and Get Up and on Fox Sports 1 as a contributor on Speak for Youself and Undisputed.
The questions about the length of Bain's arms did not impact him as significantly as some NFL Draft analysts projected. Bain slipping slightly to 15th was not a precipitous fall in the 2026 NFL Draft first round.
As Bain and the other Miami players begin their NFL careers, they will always have a powerful ally in their fellow Hurricane alum Irvin. ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. had Bain 16th on his big board. Bain's arm measurement did not impact where he was drafted, based on the most well-known NFL Draft analyst.
Add us as a preferred source on Google