Odell Beckham Jr. is making it clear that he is not retired from professional football.
The former New York Giants wideout spoke about his potential future in the NFL and why he thinks he can still play despite the fact he has not caught on with an NFL team through two weeks of the season.
Beckham, of course, was the No. 12 overall pick of the Giants in the 2014 NFL Draft and spent his first five seasons with Big Blue. He was the 2014 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a three-time Pro Bowler who posted four 1,000-plus-yard seasons for the Giants.
What Did Odell Beckham Jr. Say About Retirement?
Beckham did an interview with Complex Magazine, where he spoke about his future and why he still thinks he can play.
“I’ve got some things in the works, and retiring is not happening,” Beckham said. “I know I can play in the league right now. I done seen who is out on the field. I done worked out with the top people. I know I can play ball.”
Beckham, who had just nine catches as a member of the Miami Dolphins a season ago but posted 35 catches for 565 yards as a member of the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, said he isn’t looking for a role like he had with the Giants — where he averaged 10.5 targets and 93 receiving yards per game.
“I’m not looking to be somebody’s No. 1 receiver and get 15 targets,” Beckham said. “I know the game. I know how it goes. … I just be wanting to play ball on a good team, where I have a role where I have five, six or seven plays, where I’m getting the chance to catch. But I want to go hit somebody. I want to play football.”
After three superstar-caliber seasons with the Giants, Beckham appeared destined for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but his career took a huge turn after the Giants traded him to the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
Despite the fact he was a major factor in the Los Angeles Rams‘ Super Bowl win in 2022, Beckham has not had even 600 receiving yards in a season since his first year with the Browns.
Still, he has his eyes fixated on shoring up his NFL legacy.
“I just want to play ball and finish up my legacy for myself,” Beckham said. “I don’t ever want to look back and say ‘I stopped too early,’ even though I’ve done everything.”
Would Odell Beckham Jr. Go Back To The Giants?
Giants fans have wondered what might have been if they didn’t trade Beckham, even though the deal ultimately worked out in Big Blue’s favor.
Beckham said he’d be open to a reunion, even though the Giants don’t check all the boxes on Beckham’s criteria for teams.
“It’s no hard feelings. Business is biz,” Beckham said. “At the end of the day, [New York] forever changed my life. I’m forever grateful for this place. We’ll see. I like the way they put the white pants on now.”