Is Odell Beckham Jr. returning to NFL? What recent workout with Giants says about 2026 outlook originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Giants might be turning back the clock with a potential wide receiver addition.
Odell Beckham Jr., now 33 years old and years removed from his last productive NFL season, worked out for his former Giants team on Monday, per Ian Rapoport.
Nothing is set in stone, but there is a chance that New York brings the veteran back for 2026, nearly a decade after he parted ways with the Giants as one of the better receivers across franchise history.
Here's what to know about Beckham's potential reunion with the Giants.
Beckham hasn't played an NFL snap in multiple seasons and hasn't been an elite receiver in the league in the 2020s at all — but he has not yet retired. In 2024, Beckham appeared in nine games for the Miami Dolphins, dealing with injuries before being waived in December. Last season, he remained a free agent while also suspended six games by the NFL for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
But with Beckham never announcing his retirement, that's led to the possibility he signs with a team for 2026 as somewhat of a comeback. And if it's going to happen, he appears to have his best shot with the team that drafted him.
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On Monday, Beckham reportedly worked out for the Giants, and a reunion is "possible," per Rapoport.
Former #Giants star WR Odell Beckham Jr worked out for his old team today, per me and @MikeGarafolo. A reunion seems possible. pic.twitter.com/BpCQFmcmZL
For now, there is nothing guaranteed. Players will often work out for teams and not wind up signing — if New York happened to see anything from the 33-year-old in that workout that concerned John Harbaugh and company, especially with Beckham's injury history, they'll likely pass on signing the receiver.
However, there's plenty of nostalgia, connections and room for a potential fit. Beckham isn't going to be the WR1 he once was — but if he could provide some veteran leadership and secondary pass-catching to a wide receiver unit that includes Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin and Darnell Mooney, the Giants would boast some solid depth for 2026.
Beckham wasn't just a Giants star early in his career. He also played under Harbaugh in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens, totaling 565 yards in his most recent mostly-healthy NFL season.
Beckham was drafted by New York with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He became an instant star for the Giants, remaining with the franchise for five seasons.
Beckham broke a few NFL rookie receiving records in 2014, even after missing four games due to an injury. He became the first player to record at least 75 receptions, 1,100 yards, and ten touchdowns as a rookie. Famously, Beckham made an unreal one-handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys on "Monday Night Football" in 2014, then went on to be named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.
He remained one of the league's elite wideouts over his Giants tenure. In 2016, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards, and the Giants made the playoffs at 11-5. During his time in New York, Beckham earned two second-team All-Pro nods and three Pro Bowl selections.
2014-2016 Odell Beckham Jr. was absolute cinema 🎥 pic.twitter.com/r4AoaUTSNz
Beckham's time in New York ended in March 2019 when he was traded to the Cleveland Browns. In 2019, he had his fifth and most recent 1,000-yard season, but Beckham dealt with injuries and some other off-the-field drama over his time in Cleveland.
He won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 on a one-year deal, tearing his ACL in the Super Bowl against the Bengals. He didn't return to the NFL until 2023, signing another one-year deal with the Ravens as receiver deeper on the depth chart; in 2024, Beckham appeared in nine games for the Dolphins, but didn't have much production.
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