History of Odell Beckham Jr. in Timeline

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Odell Beckham Jr.

Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr., or OBJ, is a professional American football wide receiver. He gained prominence playing college football for LSU before being drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. Throughout his NFL career, OBJ has played for the Giants, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins.

1924: First Player to Record Multiple Games with a Touchdown Pass and a Receiving Touchdown in a Single Season Since 1924

In 2018, Odell Beckham Jr. became the first player to record multiple games with a touchdown pass and a receiving touchdown in a single season since Eddie Kaw and Benny Boynton accomplished the feat for the 1924 Buffalo Bisons.

1950: Beckham became one of four players since 1950 to record a passing touchdown of at least 50 yards while having at least 100 receiving yards.

During Week 5 against the Panthers, Beckham threw a pass to rookie Saquon Barkley that went for a 57-yard touchdown. In addition, Beckham finished with eight receptions for 131 receiving yards as the Giants lost 31–33. He became the first player since David Patten in 2001 and only the fourth since 1950 to record a passing touchdown of at least 50 yards while having at least 100 receiving yards in the same game.

October 13, 1985: Mark Bavaro's Record

Mark Bavaro previously held the record of 176 receiving yards against the Cincinnati Bengals on October 13, 1985, before Odell Beckham Jr. broke it.

1989: Father Plays at LSU

In 1989, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., started playing running back at LSU.

1990: Father Mentioned in Book

In 1990, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., was mentioned in Buzz Bissinger's book, Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream.

Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream

November 5, 1992: Odell Beckham Jr. Born

On November 5, 1992, Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr., also known as OBJ, was born. He became a professional football wide receiver.

Others born on this day/year

1992: Father Plays at LSU, Mother Pregnant

In 1992, Beckham's father, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back at LSU, and his mother, Heather Van Norman, found out she was pregnant with him while training for the Olympic trials.

1993: Mother Wins National Championships

In 1993, Beckham's mother, Heather Van Norman, ran for three national championship relay teams, winning the events of indoor and outdoor 4 × 400 m and the outdoor 4 × 100 m relay.

2001: Last Player to Record a Passing Touchdown of at Least 50 Yards While Having at Least 100 Receiving Yards

During Week 5 against the Panthers, Beckham threw a pass to rookie Saquon Barkley that went for a 57-yard touchdown. In addition, Beckham finished with eight receptions for 131 receiving yards as the Giants lost 31–33. He became the first player since David Patten in 2001 and only the fourth since 1950 to record a passing touchdown of at least 50 yards while having at least 100 receiving yards in the same game.

2002: Jeremy Shockey in Pro Bowl

In 2002, Jeremy Shockey became a Giants rookie selected to the Pro Bowl, before Odell Beckham Jr. in 2015.

2010: Track and Field Achievements

In 2010, Odell Beckham Jr. excelled in track & field at Newman High, taking silver in the long jump at the Newman Invitational with a personal best of 6.83 meters. He also achieved sixth-place finishes at the 2010 LA 2A State Meet in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.31 seconds and in the long jump with a leap of 6.71 meters.

2010: First Non-Quarterback with Multiple Passing Touchdowns in a Season

In Week 13, against the Chicago Bears, Beckham threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to Russell Shepard. He became the first non-quarterback with multiple passing touchdowns in a season since Antwaan Randle El in 2010.

September 3, 2011: Collegiate Debut

On September 3, 2011, Odell Beckham Jr. made his collegiate debut for LSU against the #3 Oregon Ducks, recording two receptions for 10 yards in the 40–27 victory.

2011: Times Picayune Blue-Chip list

In 2011, Beckham was named to the Times Picayune 2011 Blue-Chip list and to the Louisiana 2A All-State first-team as a wide receiver. He also earned District 9-2A Offensive MVP honors and a spot on The Advocate's Super Dozen.

2011: U.S. Army All-American Bowl

In 2011, Odell Beckham Jr. played in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl after being regarded as a four-star recruit.

2011: Giants last playoff appearance before 2016

In 2016, the Giants clinched a Wild Card spot, marking their first return to the playoffs since 2011.

2012: Sophomore Season at LSU

In 2012, Odell Beckham Jr. started 12 of 13 games for the LSU Tigers. He had his first collegiate punt return touchdown against North Texas and his first 100+ yard game against Towson. He finished the season with 713 receiving yards.

2013: Paul Hornung Award Winner

In 2013, Odell Beckham Jr. won the Paul Hornung Award as the most versatile player in major college football. He had a record-long 109-yard field goal return against UAB and finished the season with 57 receptions for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns.

May 19, 2014: Signs with New York Giants

On May 19, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a four-year contract with the New York Giants for $10.4 million with a $5.88 million signing bonus.

October 5, 2014: NFL Debut

On October 5, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. made his NFL debut in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons, recording four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown in the 30–20 victory.

November 23, 2014: "Catch of the Year" Against Cowboys

On November 23, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. made a one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football, which was widely hailed as the "catch of the year". He finished the game with 10 catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

December 8, 2014: Jersey Displayed at Pro Football Hall of Fame

On December 8, 2014, the Pro Football Hall of Fame put Odell Beckham Jr.'s game-worn jersey from the game against Dallas on display to commemorate his famous one-handed catch.

December 14, 2014: Rookie Records Set

On December 14, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. became the first NFL rookie with at least 12 catches, 140 yards, and three scores in a game. He tied Mark Bavaro's rookie record for most receptions in a game by a Giants rookie, and set an NFL rookie record for over 90 receiving yards in seven straight games.

December 21, 2014: Extends Receiving Streak

On December 21, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. extended his streak of 90 or more receiving yards in a game to 8, racking up 148 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams, including an 80-yard score.

2014: Enters NFL Draft

After the 2013 season, Odell Beckham Jr. decided to forgo his senior season and entered the 2014 NFL draft.

2014: Hamstring Injuries

During the 2014 season, Odell Beckham Jr. revealed that he suffered from two hamstring injuries before the season, which impacted his health throughout the year.

2014: Pro Football Writers Association Offensive Rookie of the Year Award

In 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. was awarded the Pro Football Writers Association Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

2014: Offensive Rookie of the Year

In 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award after breaking numerous NFL rookie receiving records, despite missing the first four games of the season due to injury. He became the first player to record more than 75 receptions, 1,100 yards, and ten touchdowns in a rookie season and broke the rookie record for the most average receiving yards per game.

January 7, 2015: Pro Bowl Selection

On January 7, 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. was named as a replacement for Calvin Johnson in the Pro Bowl due to injury, becoming the first Giants rookie wide receiver in franchise history and the first Giants rookie since Jeremy Shockey in 2002 to make the Pro Bowl. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.

January 29, 2015: Sets New World Record for One-Handed Catches

On January 29, 2015, Beckham partnered with Drew Brees to establish a new world record of 33 one-handed catches in a minute during a live ESPN broadcast from Glendale, Arizona. Although he shattered the previous record of 10, his record was shortly broken by Andy Fantuz.

January 31, 2015: Offensive Rookie of the Year

On January 31, 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. was named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He was also awarded the 2014 Pro Football Writers Association Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

May 13, 2015: Madden NFL 16 Cover

On May 13, 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. was voted to be on the cover of Madden NFL 16, becoming the youngest player to ever grace the cover of Madden.

December 21, 2015: NFL Suspends Beckham One Game

On December 21, 2015, the NFL Disciplinary Committee suspended Odell Beckham Jr. for one game without pay due to multiple violations of safety-related playing rules during a game against the Carolina Panthers. Beckham appealed the decision, but the suspension was upheld.

2015: Participates in "Catching Odell" TV movie

In 2015, Beckham participated in "Catching Odell", a TV movie offering a behind-the-scenes look at his preparations and training for the upcoming season.

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2016: Television Debut in Code Black

In 2016, Beckham made his television debut in Code Black.

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2016: Pro Bowl Selection and NFL Top 100 Ranking

In 2016, Odell Beckham Jr. earned a Pro Bowl selection for the second consecutive year. He was also ranked 10th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016.

2016: Career Highs and Playoff Appearance

In 2016, Odell Beckham Jr. started all 16 games for the first time in his career, achieving a career-high of 101 receptions, 1,367 receiving yards, and ten touchdowns. He was selected for the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive year, and the Giants clinched a Wild Card spot, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

April 24, 2017: Giants Exercise Beckham's Fifth-Year Option

On April 24, 2017, the New York Giants exercised the fifth-year option on Odell Beckham Jr.'s contract, securing him for another season.

May 2017: Signs Endorsement Contract with Nike

In May 2017, Beckham and Nike signed the largest endorsement contract in NFL history, worth $25 million over five years, with incentives to extend it to eight years and $48 million.

June 1, 2017: Mother Resigns from Coaching Position

On June 1, 2017, Beckham's mother, Heather Van Norman, resigned from her position as the coach of the Nicholls State University track and field team.

2017: Season-Ending Ankle Fracture

In 2017, Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a fractured left ankle during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Despite playing only four games, he finished with 25 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

2017: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

In 2017, Odell Beckham Jr. was ranked eighth by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

August 27, 2018: Contract Extension with the Giants

On August 27, 2018, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a five-year, $95 million contract extension with the New York Giants, which included $41 million fully guaranteed.

2018: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

Despite only playing four games in 2017 due to a season-ending ankle injury, Odell Beckham Jr. was still ranked 77th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.

2018: Appears in Music Video for "Bed"

In 2018, Beckham, along with his then-Giants teammate Brad Wing, appeared in the music video for the Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande song "Bed".

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2018: Baptized in Jordan River

In the summer of 2018, Beckham was baptized in the Jordan River.

March 13, 2019: Trade to the Cleveland Browns

On March 13, 2019, Odell Beckham Jr., along with Olivier Vernon, was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Jabrill Peppers, Kevin Zeitler, and the Browns' first- and third-round picks in the 2019 NFL draft.

October 5, 2019: Fine for altercation with Marlon Humphrey

On October 5, 2019, Odell Beckham Jr. was fined $14,037 following an altercation with Ravens' cornerback Marlon Humphrey during a game. Humphrey was also fined the same amount.

2019: NFL Top 100 Players Ranking

In 2019, Odell Beckham Jr. was ranked 23rd by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.

January 21, 2020: Core Muscle Surgery

On January 21, 2020, Odell Beckham Jr. underwent core muscle surgery to address a sports hernia issue. He was later ranked 59th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020.

October 2020: First ACL tear with Cleveland

In October 2020, Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a torn ACL while playing for the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals.

October 27, 2020: Placed on Injured Reserve with Torn ACL

On October 27, 2020, Odell Beckham Jr. was placed on injured reserve after suffering a torn ACL during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, prematurely ending his season.

March 2021: Strategic Advisor to Tribe Capital SPAC

In March 2021, Beckham became a strategic advisor to a SPAC sponsored by Tribe Capital.

November 5, 2021: Browns Announce Release of Beckham

On November 5, 2021, the Cleveland Browns released a statement indicating that they would be releasing Odell Beckham Jr. after outrage on social media by Beckham's father.

November 11, 2021: Signed with the Los Angeles Rams

On November 11, 2021, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in eight regular season games for the Rams in 2021, scoring a touchdown in five of the games.

2021: Last 100+ yard receiving game before 2023

Odell Beckham Jr. recorded his first 100+ yard receiving game since 2021 in Week 11 of 2023, with 116 receiving yards during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

January 17, 2022: First Career Playoff Touchdown

On January 17, 2022, Odell Beckham Jr. scored his first career playoff touchdown in the Wild Card Game against the Arizona Cardinals.

February 17, 2022: Birth of First Child

On February 17, 2022, Beckham and his then-partner Lauren Wood's first child, a son, was born.

September 8, 2022: Rams' Championship Banner Ceremony

On September 8, 2022, Odell Beckham Jr., despite being unsigned, participated in the Los Angeles Rams' championship banner ceremony before their opening night game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

November 27, 2022: Escorted Off American Airlines Flight

On November 27, 2022, Beckham was escorted off an American Airlines flight before its departure from Miami to Los Angeles due to refusing to put on his seatbelt and being unresponsive. He was later banned from all future American Airlines flights.

2022: Super Bowl Victory and Second ACL Tear

In 2022, Odell Beckham Jr. won his first career Super Bowl championship with the Los Angeles Rams, scoring the game's first touchdown. However, he left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury, which was later revealed to be a torn ACL. He was ranked 90th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.

April 9, 2023: Signed with the Baltimore Ravens

On April 9, 2023, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

March 13, 2024: Released by the Ravens

On March 13, 2024, Odell Beckham Jr. was released by the Baltimore Ravens.

May 8, 2024: Signed with the Miami Dolphins

On May 8, 2024, Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. He was later placed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season after needing surgery.

December 2024: Released by Miami Dolphins

In December 2024, Odell Beckham Jr. mutually agreed to be released by the Miami Dolphins.

2024: Brother Wins Reality Show

In 2024, Beckham’s brother, Kordell Beckham, won season 6 of the reality dating competition show, Love Island USA.

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September 16, 2025: Announced as Baller League USA Manager

On September 16, 2025, Beckham was announced as a manager for one of the teams in Baller League USA, an indoor six-a-side soccer competition set to begin play in January 2026.

January 2026: Baller League USA to begin play

In January 2026, Baller League USA, an indoor six-a-side soccer competition in which Beckham is a manager for one of the teams, will begin play.