Odell Beckham Jr. Was Gone From New York And Kevin O’Connell Was Already On The Phone

Odell Beckham Jr. officially signed with the Minnesota Vikings practice squad this week, but the real play happened the moment he was cut loose by the New York Giants. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell didn’t waste a second, jumping on the phone to make his pitch, and it clearly made all the difference for OBJ.

The Immediate Pitch From KOC

OBJ himself spilled the beans to reporters on Wednesday, confirming that O’Connell reached out immediately after his release from the Giants on September 29. “He had extreme confidence and belief and texted me,” Beckham said. How fast is that? You gotta respect a coach who knows what he wants and goes after it. OBJ made it clear that KOC “was the one who reached out and kind of made this whole thing happen.” It’s a lightning-fast league, for real. Beckham mentioned, “Life happens fast, but life in the NFL feels like it happens faster.” No kidding, right?

“It’s Always Good to Be Somewhere Where You’re Wanted”

You can practically feel Beckham’s relief and appreciation through his quotes. He emphasized how much it means to feel truly valued. “It’s always good to be somewhere where you’re wanted,” he explained, and that feeling clearly guided his decision to land with the Vikings. For a player who lays his “livelihood on the line” every single game, that kind of commitment from a coach is everything. Beckham added, “It seemed as if he wanted me to be here and that was expressed to me. That feels good when you’re playing a sport like this, when you’re laying your livelihood on the line. It always feels better when you’re doing it for somebody where it feels like their heart is there for it as well.” It’s not just about the contract, it’s about the belief, and KOC delivered that in spades.

Beckham officially joined the practice squad on Wednesday, October 7, after being cut a week prior. It’s a new chapter, and you can bet fans will be watching closely to see how this quick connection pays off.

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Originally reported by Bleacher Report.