Odell Beckham

Odell Beckham's Biography

Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr., often referred to as OBJ, was born on November 5, 1992, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Known for his significant contribution to the sport, Beckham Jr. holds a respected position as an American professional football wide receiver. Currently, he is associated with the Miami Dolphins, an esteemed team of the National Football League (NFL). Before carving out his professional career, Beckham Jr. was a proud representation of the LSU Tigers during his college days. His talent did not go unnoticed, earning him first-team All-American honors in 2013. Further marking his journey in the sport, he was chosen by the New York Giants as their first-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft.

Beckham’s professional football journey began on a remarkable note. He played the 2012 BCS National Championship Game during his first year at LSU. Following his impeccable performance in the junior season of 2013, he bagged the prestigious Paul Hornung Award. Remarkably, Beckham Jr. broke numerous NFL rookie receiving records in his first season with the New York Giants, despite missing the first four matches due to an injury. He accomplished the unprecedented feat of recording more than 75 receptions, 1,100 yards, and ten touchdowns in a rookie season. To add to this, he broke the rookie record for the most average receiving yards per game. Beckham Jr.’s national fame rose dramatically in Week 12 of the first season when he scored a one-handed touchdown catch in a Sunday Night Football game against Dallas Cowboys, earning acclaim as the greatest catch ever made by numerous pundits and athletes. The following year, Beckham Jr. was awarded the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Unstoppable in his journey, the budding football star created history again in 2016 by becoming the fastest NFL player to reach both 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards. With his first 100-reception season that year, he led the Giants to an impressive 11-5 season record, helping them reach the NFL playoffs for the first time in his career. For his extraordinary performance, he earned the Pro Bowl title in each of his first three seasons and was twice named a second-team All-Pro. After a period of association with the Cleveland Browns, Beckham Jr. joined the Los Angeles Rams midway through the 2021 season, a collaboration that led to their Super Bowl LVI victory. However, during the following season, he sustained an injury and spent his time recovering from his ACL. He returned to the field in 2023, signing with the Baltimore Ravens.

Beckham Jr.’s football journey finds its roots in his early life. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, he was raised in New Orleans where he attended Isidore Newman School. Besides playing football, he also played basketball and track in school, excelling in all. It was his football skills, however, that saw him take on various roles, including wide receiver, quarterback, running back, and cornerback for the Greenies football team. As a senior, Beckham Jr. was nothing short of spectacular, recording 1,000 receiving yards in a season. This feat made him one of only two players in school history to achieve this, the other being Cooper Manning. Beckham Jr.’s prowess was also recognized outside his school, earning him a spot on The Advocate’s Super Dozen. Furthermore, the young talent was also deeply involved in basketball and track & field during his high school days, specially standing out in sprinting and jumping events.

A soccer aficionado from childhood, Beckham Jr. was offered a tryout for a junior national team program by his coaches. Nevertheless, he decided to focus on his talents in football and other domestic sports. His football skills did not go unnoticed, and he was recognized as a four-star recruit by Rivals.com and Scout.com, making him a highly sought-after young player. Beckham Jr. chose Louisiana State University over various other scholarship offers and marked his shining college career by also playing in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Beginning his career as a freshman at LSU in 2011, Beckham Jr. quickly became a key player in the team, representing them in 14 games in just his first year. The team completed the freshman year with a 13-0 record under his representation and even reached the BCS National Championship game. In the following years, Beckham Jr. accomplished significant feats, including bagging All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) selections and the 2013 Paul Hornung Award. Following these successful seasons, Beckham Jr. decided to forgo his senior season and seize the opportunity to enter the 2014 NFL draft.

His NFL career took off in 2014 when the New York Giants selected him with the 12th overall pick. Beckham Jr. quickly established himself in the team and achieved several professional milestones, including setting an NFL rookie record for a calendar month in November of his first season. His spectacular play, characterized by his trademark one-handed catches, earned him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Currently associated with the Miami Dolphins, Beckham Jr. continues to amaze football fans with his exceptional talent and dedication to the sport.