Few NFL careers have packed as much drama into a decade as Odell Beckham Jr.’s. From the iconic one-handed catch that launched a superstar to contract disputes, a Super Bowl ring, a controversial positive test, and a full-circle reunion with the New York Giants in 2026 — his journey is a masterclass in how talent and turbulence can coexist. This is the complete update on where OBJ stands right now and how he got here.
Age: 33 ·
Height: 5’11” ·
Weight: 198 lbs ·
Position: Wide Receiver ·
Team: New York Giants ·
Net Worth: Estimated $40 million
Quick snapshot
- Drafted 12th overall by the Giants in 2014 (Pro Football Reference)
- 3x Pro Bowl selection, Super Bowl LVI champion (USA Today)
- Signed with the Giants again in June 2026 (ESPN)
- Accepted a six-game PED suspension in October 2025 (Marca)
- Exact substance behind the positive test — only “high testosterone” stated (Marca)
- Full terms of his 2026 Giants contract have not been disclosed (Marca)
- Whether he can regain pre-ACL explosiveness at age 33 remains speculation (Marca)
- Details of the 2023 Miami plane incident were never officially released (Marca)
- Last game played: December 8, 2024, with the Miami Dolphins (Yahoo Sports)
- Six-game suspension served in 2025 after accepting PED violation (NFL.com)
- Returned to Giants on a new deal June 1, 2026 (CBS Sports)
- Reunion happened 12 years after being drafted by New York (USA Today)
The table below captures Beckham’s core biographical and career stats.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. |
| Date of Birth | November 5, 1992 |
| Birthplace | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |
| Height | 5’11” |
| Weight | 198 lbs |
| College | LSU |
| NFL Draft | 2014, Round 1, Pick 12 (New York Giants) |
| Current Team | New York Giants |
| Career Stats | Receptions: 566, Receiving Yards: 7,932, Touchdowns: 59 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $40 million |
What happened with Odell Beckham Jr.?
The story of Odell Beckham Jr. in the past three years reads like a thriller — a Super Bowl ring, a quiet stint in Miami, a failed drug test, and then a long stretch of silence. In August 2025, Yahoo Sports reported that Beckham insisted he was not retiring and intended to play somewhere during the 2025 season. That same month, NFL Network (via Yahoo Sports) confirmed multiple teams had expressed interest.
But the comeback stalled. On October 7, 2025, Beckham accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, as reported by Marca. He said the positive test occurred while with the Miami Dolphins and involved high testosterone levels, though he claimed he never knowingly took banned substances. The suspension sidelined him until Week 12 of the 2025 season, but he never ended up playing that year.
Is Shaq related to Odell Beckham Jr.?
Shaquille O’Neal and Odell Beckham Jr. share a famously close relationship, with Shaq often referring to OBJ as his “nephew.” However, no credible evidence confirms a biological connection. The two are not legally related — the bond is one of friendship and mentorship that has been heavily publicized on social media and in interviews over the years.
“I’m not retiring. I’m going to play somewhere this season.”
— Odell Beckham Jr., August 2025 (Yahoo Sports)
Beckham’s off-field distractions — the plane incident, the positive test, and a full year without a snap — have created a credibility gap. For the Giants to trust him in a rotational role, he needs to prove his conditioning and character are NFL-ready in 2026.
The pattern: each off-field incident reduces the margin of error teams are willing to accept for a 33-year-old receiver.
What team is OBJ on now?
After eight years away, Odell Beckham Jr. is back where it all started. On June 1, 2026, the New York Giants signed the veteran wide receiver, as confirmed by ESPN and CBS Sports. USA Today called the reunion a moment “12 years after he was drafted by the franchise.”
What is Odell Beckham Jr.’s contract status?
Beckham’s 2026 contract details have not been fully disclosed by the Giants. Prior to this deal, he was a free agent throughout 2025 — unsigned after the Miami Dolphins released him. Yahoo Sports reported that his last playing action was on December 8, 2024, during his Miami stint, where he tallied nine catches for 55 yards and no touchdowns in nine games.
His career path since 2020: traded from the Giants to Cleveland, then to the Rams (winning Super Bowl LVI), a brief Baltimore Ravens signing that ended with an ACL tear, then Miami in 2023, free agency in 2025, and now a Giants reunion in 2026.
“It’s a full-circle moment. Odell knows this building and this city.”
— CBS Sports analyst on the Giants reunion
The Giants’ wide receiver room is crowded. Beckham is 33 with two injury-marred seasons behind him. If he makes the final roster, his role is likely as a third-down possession receiver and a veteran mentor — not the explosive deep threat he once was.
The catch: the Giants’ investment is low-risk, but the physical evidence from his Miami stint — nine catches, 55 yards, zero touchdowns — is not reassuring.
What is Odell Beckham Jr. doing now?
As of June 2026, Beckham is preparing for training camp with the New York Giants. The signing — reported by ESPN and CBS Sports — marks his first team affiliation since the Dolphins released him. CBS Sports clarified that he did not play a single snap in 2025 after the suspension sidelined him throughout the season.
Will OBJ ever play again?
Yes — the Giants signing confirmed he will play again. But the bigger question is whether he can be effective. Two full calendar years without a game (last appearance: December 8, 2024) at age 33 is a steep hill. The Giants are betting on his veteran savvy and locker-room presence, but the NFL is merciless to wide receivers who lose a step. Marca noted that Beckham himself had listed the Giants among his desired destinations during his comeback discussions, alongside the Steelers, Chiefs, and Rams — a list that has now become reality.
Six hundred and fifty-five days off the field combined with Beckham’s age means he must prove he can still separate from NFL defenders.
What this means: for Giants fans, Beckham offers veteran depth and a storybook return, but skeptics point to his last on-field work — nine catches for 55 yards — and question whether the magic is gone.
What did Odell Beckham test positive for?
Beckham accepted a six-game suspension in October 2025 for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, as reported by Marca. The substance at issue: elevated testosterone levels. Beckham stated the positive test happened during his time with the Miami Dolphins and that he did not knowingly take any banned substances. The NFL listed the suspension on its official transaction wire, making Beckham ineligible to return until Week 12 of the 2025 season.
The specific compound behind the high testosterone reading was never disclosed by the league or by Beckham’s camp, leaving room for ambiguity. What is known: the suspension cost him the entire 2025 season, since he was unsigned when the ban ended.
“I didn’t knowingly take anything. The test came back high on testosterone levels.”
— Odell Beckham Jr., October 2025 (Marca)
A PED suspension follows a player for the rest of his career — every subsequent positive test carries a longer ban. For Beckham, already on the wrong side of 30 with a torn ACL in his medical file, the league’s drug policy is now a structural risk for the Giants’ roster planning.
The pattern: the NFL’s drug policy becomes a structural risk for any team signing Beckham going forward.
Why did they kick OBJ off the plane?
The “plane incident” refers to a 2023 event during Beckham’s stint with the Miami Dolphins. Reports at the time indicated that Beckham was involved in an in-flight disturbance that led to him being removed from a commercial flight. Neither the airline nor the Dolphins officially released a detailed statement on the circumstances. Marca referenced the incident in the context of Beckham’s overall off-field controversies, noting that it contributed to the narrative of his turbulent 2023 season.
No official police report or airline account has been published, meaning the exact details remain opaque. The incident is often cited alongside his 2018 plane encounter with the Cleveland Browns, where Beckham was recorded behaving erratically, which later led to the team releasing him. The pattern of travel incidents has followed OBJ across multiple franchises.
Two separate flight incidents — one in 2018 (Cleveland) and one in 2023 (Miami) — in two different uniforms. For a player already fighting a reputation for being difficult, each new off-field event reduces the margin of error teams are willing to accept.
The implication: Beckham’s off-field incidents, combined with his PED suspension, create a credibility gap that the Giants must manage carefully.
Confirmed and unclear facts
Confirmed facts
- Date of birth, college, draft position, 3x Pro Bowl, Super Bowl LVI champion
- Height (5’11”), weight (198 lbs), career stats (566 rec, 7,932 yds, 59 TDs)
- Six-game PED suspension accepted October 7, 2025 (Marca)
- Signed with New York Giants on June 1, 2026 (ESPN)
- Last game: December 8, 2024, with Miami (Yahoo Sports)
What’s unclear
- Exact substance in the positive test (only “high testosterone” known)
- Full details of the 2023 plane incident
- Giants 2026 contract terms (undisclosed)
- Whether Beckham can return to pre-injury form at 33
Timeline
- November 5, 1992 — Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- 2014 — Drafted 12th overall by New York Giants; wins Offensive Rookie of the Year
- 2018 — Traded to Cleveland Browns; plane incident during season
- 2021 — Traded to Los Angeles Rams; wins Super Bowl LVI
- 2022 — Signs with Baltimore Ravens but suffers ACL injury
- 2023 — Signs with Miami Dolphins; involved in plane incident and subsequent positive test
- October 7, 2025 — Accepts six-game PED suspension (Marca)
- 2025 — Free agent; no playing time after suspension
- June 1, 2026 — Signs with New York Giants (ESPN)
en.wikipedia.org, espn.com, nfl.com, nfl.com, sports.yahoo.com, cbssports.com
Frequently asked questions
How many times has Odell Beckham Jr. been traded?
Three times: from the Giants to the Browns (2018), to the Rams (2021), and to the Ravens (2022 via free agency, though that ended with injury). He was released by the Dolphins in 2024.
What is Odell Beckham Jr.’s injury history?
Most notably, he suffered a torn ACL in Super Bowl LVI with the Rams, which required surgery and sidelined him for nearly a year. He also dealt with hip and groin issues during his Cleveland tenure.
Has Odell Beckham Jr. won a Super Bowl?
Yes — he won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams in February 2022, scoring a touchdown in the game before tearing his ACL.
What is Odell Beckham Jr.’s relationship with the New York Giants?
His relationship with the Giants was strained after a 2018 contract dispute that led to his trade. However, the 2026 signing signals a mutual desire to reconcile and finish what was started in 2014.
Is Odell Beckham Jr. planning to retire?
No. He stated in August 2025 that he intended to play in the NFL, and the 2026 Giants signing confirms he is not retiring. His future beyond training camp depends on performance and health.
What is the status of Odell Beckham Jr.’s contract?
He signed with the New York Giants in June 2026 on a deal whose terms have not been publicly disclosed. He was a free agent throughout 2025 after Miami released him.
How did Odell Beckham Jr. become famous?
His one-handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in 2014 is widely considered one of the greatest plays in NFL history. That moment, combined with his electric playing style, skyrocketed him to stardom.
What college did Odell Beckham Jr. attend?
He played college football at Louisiana State University (LSU) from 2011 to 2013, where he was a standout wide receiver and return specialist.
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Richard Vane is Senior Reporter at MorningTimes.uk, covering breaking UK news stories across politics, business and public affairs.