OBJ’s Return to New York May Be Nothing More Than a Dream

Recently, there has been considerable buzz surrounding the possibility of a potential return to New York by former first-round pick Odell Beckham Jr. During a panel at Fanatics Fest about a week ago, Beckham himself briefly entertained this notion, sparking hope among Giants fans. However, despite the excitement, this reunion may not be in the cards for the GMen—much to the disappointment of some fans and possibly Beckham Jr. himself.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan addressed the matter in his latest podcast episode on Tuesday morning, offering much-needed clarity to the speculation. “Odell Beckham Jr. made comments at Fanatics Fest about maybe coming back to the Giants. I've talked to people (and) there’s nothing brewing. It’s unlikely to happen,” Raanan explained on the Breaking Big Blue podcast. “I would not expect Odell Beckham Jr. to be a Giant again. Maybe somewhere along the line, he signs a one-day contract and retires as a Giant, if that's a thing. Some players have done that. Fine, that could happen. But based on the conversations I’ve had, seeing Odell Beckham returning to the Giants this year just isn’t realistic or sensible.”

At present, Beckham remains a free agent after several seasons of ups and downs. OBJ began his professional football career with the Giants when they selected him 12th overall out of LSU in the 2014 NFL Draft. His rookie season was nothing short of spectacular—he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with 91 receptions for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s most electrifying wide receivers.

Beckham followed that debut with two more impressive campaigns, recording 96 catches for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2015, then 101 receptions for 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016. Unfortunately, his momentum was halted by an injury-plagued 2017 season that limited his production. Nevertheless, Beckham bounced back in 2018, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark once again despite ongoing health challenges.

In 2019, Beckham made a high-profile move to the Cleveland Browns, where he managed to add another 1,035 receiving yards to his résumé. However, his career trajectory took a downturn after that point—he never again reached 600 yards in a season. In 2023, Beckham suited up for the Baltimore Ravens and recorded just 565 yards, and his brief stint with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 yielded a mere 55 yards.

As Beckham approaches his 33rd birthday this November, his future in the league remains uncertain. Teams appear hesitant to commit, given his recent decline in production and concerns about durability. Whether he finds a new home or decides to hang up his cleats, the chapter of Beckham’s career that made such an indelible impact in New York may well be closed.