At 33, have we seen OBJ’s final act?
In August 2026, the New York Giants announced that Odell Beckham Jr. (OBJ) would make the 53-man roster, suggesting he still had some juice left in the tank. It showed that Odell did enough in training camp to get head coach John Harbaugh’s attention.
During OBJ’s final stint with the Giants (photo courtesy Saratogian)
But the marriage was short. Just a month later, the Giants released him, ending his second stint with the team.
OBJ began his career with the New York Giants in 2014. He was impressive from 2014-2018, gaining 1,000 yards in four of those first five seasons. During his rookie season in 2014, OBJ led rookie wide receivers in touchdowns, scoring 12.
During his first stint with the Giants, Odell scored 44 touchdowns, caught 390 passes, and gained 5,476 yards. However, in the NFL, and in life, change always happens. Odell signed a 5-year contract extension in 2018, but was soon traded to the Cleveland Browns (2019). He did well here, gaining another 1,000 yards that season. Odell showed he was still “the man.”
But injuries began piling up, and over the next two seasons OBJ’s productivity dropped, primarily because of his limited time on the field. He tore his ACL in 2020, which ended his season.
Because of the brand, it didn’t take long to get on another NFL roster. This time it was midway through the 2021 season, and the team was the Los Angeles Rams. Despite a fresh start and some production, OBJ couldn’t stay injury-free through that Super Bowl season, tearing his ACL for the second time in two years.
MADDEN 16 cover (photo courtesy EA Sports and CBS Sports)
His career wasn’t over, though. OBJ had stints with the Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before sitting out the 2025-26 season. Still, the expected progression downward had begun. He went from a prolific player many viewed as a face of the league to a shadow of his former self.
The face of Madden 16, known for one-handed/acrobatic, if not iconic, touchdown catches, had transitioned to the point where his career hung in the balance. He played in three games this season for the Giants and didn’t register a catch.
At 33, have we seen OBJ’s final act? If so, fans will remember him as one of the most exciting players of the last decade: a Super Bowl champ, three-time Pro Bowler, and an 8,000-yard receiver.
