Odell Beckham Jr., or OBJ, is an American football wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins. He was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and played college football at LSU, where he was named a first-team All-American in 2013. In 2014, he was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round.
October 13, 1985: Mark Bavaro's Record-Setting Performance
On October 13, 1985, former Giants tight end Mark Bavaro set a franchise record with 12 catches against the Cincinnati Bengals. This record was later tied by Odell Beckham Jr. in 2014.
1989: Odell Beckham Sr.'s Time at LSU
Odell Beckham Jr.'s father, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back at LSU from 1989 to 1992.
1990: Odell Beckham Sr. Featured in Friday Night Lights
Odell Beckham Sr. was mentioned in Buzz Bissinger's 1990 book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream.
November 5, 1992: Birth of Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. was born on November 5, 1992, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
1992: Odell Beckham Jr.'s Birth and Heather Van Norman's Pregnancy
Odell Beckham Jr. was born in 1992, while his mother, Heather Van Norman, was training for the Olympic trials.
1993: Heather Van Norman's National Championship Wins
In 1993, Odell Beckham Jr.'s mother, Heather Van Norman, ran for three national championship relay teams at LSU, winning the indoor and outdoor 4x400m and the outdoor 4x100m relay events.
2002: Jeremy Shockey's Pro Bowl Selection
In 2002, Jeremy Shockey was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, becoming the first Giants rookie to achieve this honor since 2002.
2010: High School Track and Field
Odell Beckham Jr. excelled in sprinting and jumping events while at Newman High, taking silver in the long jump event at the 2010 Newman Invitational.
September 3, 2011: Collegiate Debut for LSU
Odell Beckham Jr. made his collegiate debut for LSU on September 3, 2011, against the #3 Oregon Ducks.
2011: U.S. Army All-American Bowl
Odell Beckham Jr. participated in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl as a highly regarded four-star recruit.
2011: High School Football Career
As a high school football player at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, Odell Beckham Jr. played wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and cornerback, earning accolades such as being named to the Times Picayune 2011 Blue-Chip list and the Louisiana 2A All-State first-team as a wide receiver.
2012: Sophomore Season at LSU
Odell Beckham Jr. started 12 of 13 games during his sophomore season at LSU in 2012.
2012: BCS National Championship Game Start
Odell Beckham Jr. started in the 2012 BCS National Championship game during his first year playing at LSU.
2013: Odell Beckham Jr.'s Breakout Junior Season
In 2013, Odell Beckham Jr. had a standout junior season at LSU, forming a dynamic duo with Jarvis Landry and showcasing his skills as a wide receiver and return specialist. He achieved numerous milestones, including a record-long 109-yard touchdown return from a missed field goal against UAB. His impressive performances earned him first and second-team All-SEC honors and the Paul Hornung Award, recognizing him as the most versatile player in college football.
2013: First-Team All-American Honors
Odell Beckham Jr. earned first-team All-American honors while playing college football for LSU in 2013.
2013: Paul Hornung Award
Odell Beckham Jr. won the Paul Hornung Award following his junior season at LSU in 2013.
May 19, 2014: Drafted by the New York Giants
On May 19, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. was drafted by the New York Giants as the 12th overall pick in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $10.4 million, including a $5.88 million signing bonus.
October 5, 2014: NFL Debut
On October 5, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. made his NFL debut for the New York Giants against the Atlanta Falcons, recording 4 receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown.
November 23, 2014: "The Catch"
On November 23, 2014, during a Sunday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Odell Beckham Jr. made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch while diving backward with full extension of his right hand using only three fingers, despite a pass interference call on Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr. This catch was widely acclaimed as the "catch of the year" and one of the best catches ever, drawing praise from commentators and fellow athletes.
December 14, 2014: Record-Breaking Performance Against the Washington Redskins
On December 14, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. set multiple records during a game against the Washington Redskins, becoming the first NFL rookie with at least 12 catches, 140 yards, and three touchdowns in a single game. His 12 receptions tied former Giants tight end Mark Bavaro's record for most catches by a Giants rookie in a game, while his 143 receiving yards marked the fifth time he surpassed 100 receiving yards in the 2014 season, extending his own Giants record and setting an NFL rookie record for over 90 receiving yards in seven consecutive games. Beckham also set the record for most receptions by an NFL rookie in a seven-game span with 61 catches.
December 21, 2014: Continued Success Against the St. Louis Rams
On December 21, 2014, Odell Beckham Jr. extended his streak of games with at least 90 receiving yards to eight, accumulating 148 yards on eight receptions and two touchdowns against the St. Louis Rams, including an 80-yard score, the longest touchdown reception by a Giants rookie in franchise history. He also extended his streak of games with at least 130 receiving yards and one touchdown to three.
2014: Drafted by the New York Giants
Odell Beckham Jr. was selected by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft.
2014: Hamstring Injuries
During the 2014 season, Odell Beckham Jr. revealed that he had been playing through two hamstring injuries, one sustained during an early-offseason workout and another in a preseason game. He acknowledged that he was never fully healthy throughout the season but tried to manage the injuries to stay on the field.
2014: Record-Breaking Rookie Season
Despite missing the first four games due to injury, Odell Beckham Jr. had a record-breaking rookie season in 2014 with the New York Giants, breaking numerous NFL rookie receiving records, including becoming the first player to record more than 75 receptions, 1,100 yards, and ten touchdowns in a rookie season. He also broke the rookie record for most average receiving yards per game.
2014: Odell Beckham Jr. Enters the NFL Draft
Following his successful junior season at LSU, Odell Beckham Jr. decided to forgo his senior year and declare for the 2014 NFL Draft.
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 an injury, making him the first Giants rookie wide receiver and the first Giants rookie since Jeremy Shockey in 2002 to earn a Pro Bowl selection. This recognition highlighted his exceptional rookie season and solidified his status as a rising star in the NFL.
January 29, 2015: One-Handed Catch Record Attempt
On January 29, 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. partnered with Drew Brees on ESPN to set a new world record for the most one-handed catches in a minute, catching 33 passes. This record was later broken by CFL wide receiver Andy Fantuz.
2015: Catching Odell TV Movie
In 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. was featured in "Catching Odell," a TV movie offering a behind-the-scenes look at his preparations for the upcoming season.
2016: Fastest Player to Reach 200 Receptions and 4,000 Receiving Yards
In 2016, Odell Beckham Jr. became the fastest player in NFL history to reach both 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards.
2016: Code Black Television Debut
Odell Beckham Jr. made his television debut in the show "Code Black" in 2016.
May 2017: Nike Endorsement Contract
In May 2017, Odell Beckham Jr. signed the largest endorsement contract in NFL history with Nike, worth $25 million over five years, with the potential to extend to eight years and $48 million.
June 1, 2017: Heather Van Norman Resigns from Nicholls State
Odell Beckham Jr.'s mother, Heather Van Norman, resigned from her position as coach of the Nicholls State University track and field team on June 1, 2017.
2018: Baptism in the Jordan River
Odell Beckham Jr., a Christian, was baptized in the Jordan River in the summer of 2018.
2018: Appearance in "Bed" Music Video
Odell Beckham Jr., along with Brad Wing, appeared in the music video for Nicki Minaj and Ariana Grande's song "Bed" in 2018.
October 2020: ACL Tear
In October 2020, Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a torn ACL while playing for the Cleveland Browns against the Cincinnati Bengals.
March 2021: Strategic Advisor to Tribe Capital SPAC
In March 2021, Odell Beckham Jr. became a strategic advisor to a SPAC sponsored by Tribe Capital.
November 2021: Pregnancy Announcement
Odell Beckham Jr. and Lauren Wood announced they were expecting their first child in November 2021.
2021: Signed with Los Angeles Rams
After a stint with the Cleveland Browns, Odell Beckham Jr. was signed by the Los Angeles Rams midway through the 2021 season.
2021: Last 100+ Yard Receiving Game Before 2023
Odell Beckham Jr.'s last 100+ yard receiving game before achieving it again in 2023 was in 2021.
February 17, 2022: Son's Birth
Odell Beckham Jr.'s son was born on February 17, 2022.
February 23, 2022: Son's Birth Announcement
On February 23, 2022, Odell Beckham Jr. announced on Instagram that his son with Lauren Wood was born on February 17, 2022.
September 8, 2022: Rams Championship Banner Ceremony
While still unsigned, Odell Beckham Jr. participated in the Los Angeles Rams' championship banner ceremony before their opening night game against the Buffalo Bills on September 8, 2022.
November 27, 2022: Escort Off American Airlines Flight
On November 27, 2022, Odell Beckham Jr. was escorted off an American Airlines flight in Miami for allegedly refusing to put on a seatbelt. The crew claimed he was unresponsive and appeared to be in and out of consciousness.
2022: Rehabbing ACL Injury
Odell Beckham Jr. sat out the 2022 season to rehab an ACL injury he sustained in Super Bowl LVI.
2022: Super Bowl Victory and ACL Injury
Odell Beckham Jr. won his first Super Bowl championship with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 after scoring the game's first touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, he left the game in the second quarter due to a torn ACL, the same injury he sustained in October 2020.
April 9, 2023: Signing with the Baltimore Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens on April 9, 2023.
2023: Signed with Baltimore Ravens
After rehabbing an ACL injury, Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
March 13, 2024: Release from the Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. was released by the Baltimore Ravens on March 13, 2024.
May 8, 2024: Signing with the Miami Dolphins
Odell Beckham Jr. signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins on May 8, 2024.