Isaiah Likely followed John Harbaugh to New York, and if it wasn’t already obvious why, it is now.

The de jure tight end and de facto wide receiver was Jaxson Dart’s favorite target not named Malik Nabers in the Giants’ Week 1, 28-20 win against the Cowboys, causing problems all night for a Dallas secondary that never seemed to get its legs under itself.

Likely, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal to go from the Ravens to the Giants, figured to have a strong role on a team whose receiver depth looks suspect behind Nabers. It is much less suspect if Likely is as big a part of the equation as he looked Sunday, when he caught all eight of his targets, scored twice and finished with 78 receiving yards.

On one of the happier nights in the franchise’s recent memory, a first win of the John Harbaugh era steeped in symbolism, Likely was as important a cog in the machine as anyone other than Dart or Harbaugh.

“Not necessarily [surprised],” Likely said. “When you spend hours of film watching, talking ball all of the time, talking on the field, off the field, trying to keep talking to a minimum, really just playing, letting your talent shine. Day in and day out, we’ve been practicing since training camp. Getting out there and finally showing the world what we’ve been practicing.”

New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely (9) completes a reception during the first half of a game against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Robert Sabo for NY Post

He was on the other end of what might have been Dart’s best throw of the night, a perfectly placed out route for 19 yards on a second-quarter drive that ended in Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s fumble.

He was on the other end of the throw that ended Dart’s best drive, getting wide open in the end zone corner to complete a possession that went 55 yards in six plays to end the first half with his first touchdown of the season.

And on the other side of the half, Dart looked for him in the red zone again to finish a 12-play drive in which Likely’s second touchdown of the night handed the Giants a 21-7 lead.

New York Giants tight end Isaiah Likely (9) scores a touchdown under coverage by Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (0) during the third quarter of their game in East Rutherford, NJ, on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. Bill Kostroun for NY Post

When that lead was most under threat, the Giants needing to extend a drive late in the fourth quarter to keep Dallas from getting the ball back down by eight, Dart went to Likely on third-and-9 and then a second time on third-and-3.

“It’s great playing with him,” Nabers said.

“Every time I turn around, when it goes to him, I just know it’s going to get caught.”