Odell Beckham Jr., the 33-year-old receiver who missed the entire 2025 season, officially earned his spot on the New York Giants’ 53-man roster, a comeback sealed with him reclaiming his iconic No. 13 jersey. This wasn’t some automatic pass; OBJ battled for this, calling it a “different feeling” from when he first came into the league as the No. 12 overall pick in 2014, an expected star out of LSU. After years on different paths, all roads led him back to 1 MetLife Stadium Drive, and he just made the cut.
“Honor And A Privilege” For The Comeback Kid
Making the roster after being away from the game for a full season clearly hit different for Beckham. He described securing his spot as “an honor and a privilege,” and you can feel the weight of that statement. OBJ talked about having “an opportunity to rewrite some of the last bit of the chapter.” He mentioned letting out “some of the pain that I feel like I went through,” calling the moment “very healing, very emotional, something I was very happy about.” Think about that, a player of his caliber, feeling this kind of raw emotion just to make a roster. That tells you everything about the stakes for him. The Giants had to get down to 53 players by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, leading to 1,184 players being released. Beckham wasn’t one of them.
Harbaugh’s High Praise And The Number’s Return
This offseason signing was all about reunion, not just with the Giants, but with a familiar face on the coaching staff: John Harbaugh. Beckham worked with the current Giants head coach back in 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens. Harbaugh himself was quick to compliment Beckham’s dedication, calling his recent performance his “best week” at training camp. The coach was clear: “Yes, he has done enough to make an NFL roster, for sure,” Harbaugh stated. “He’s played well. He’s gotten better as camp’s gone along. He deserves credit for that. He’s done a really good job with it.” And that famous No. 13? Wide receiver Jalin Hyatt, who previously wore it, is now on the practice squad, opening the door for OBJ to reclaim it. Beckham had made his feelings clear, saying, “I think we all know what that means to me … it would be an honor and a privilege to put that back on.”
The Countdown To Dallas Is On
Beckham feels like he still has more to give on the football field, and he’s clearly got some unfinished business with the Giants. He’ll get his chance when the Giants kick off their season on September 13. It’s a home game, Sunday Night Football, against division rival Dallas Cowboys. It doesn’t get much bigger than that for a season opener. The Giants will roll into that game with Jaxson Dart as their starting quarterback, backed up by Jameis Winston. The wide receiver room is stacked, too, featuring Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields, Darius Slayton, and Darnell Mooney alongside Beckham. The stage is set for OBJ to make good on his promise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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