Why is OBJ Still Relevant in the NFL?
On November 23, 2014, every fan at MetLife Stadium’s jaw dropped as Odell Beckham Jr. soared into the endzone with an overthrown ball caught in his right hand. The next day, every headline covered this iconic catch, a catch still admired today. In his rookie season, OBJ excited every Giants fan. As Offensive Rookie of the Year, he brought newfound hope and enthusiasm to the organization.
Drafted in 2014, OBJ came out strong in the league with an iconic rookie season. Following in his father’s footsteps, he made a name for himself at Louisiana State University. Soon after, he immediately made a name for himself in the NFL. During his rookie season, he made headlines week after week due to stellar performance and record-breaking stats. By 2016, he became the fastest player in the history of the league to achieve both 200 career receptions and 4,000 career receiving yards. That same year, OBJ reached his first 100-reception season. OBJ’s connection to Eli Manning as well as his raw, undeniable talent led the Giants to the playoffs. There was no question as to his relevance in the league, a question that did not occur for quite some time.
OBJ graced the cover of Madden NFL 16 and for three consecutive seasons, OBJ was a Pro Bowl athlete. However, his talent could only take him so far in a league full of increasing aptitude. As he became more established, OBJ lost respect from fellow players and fans. While he began to push the rules of the NFL, he was still outperforming his peers and setting records. However, he halted his role as a team leader, and the Giants sank back down into mediocrity.
The 2016-2017 season proved pivotal for OBJ. Within two weeks he was fined and the rest of his reason was riddled with injuries. He found little to no consequences for his questionable actions, as he was ranked eighth, by fellow players, on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017 list. OBJ was still making headlines and began to fascinate the press. However, this time it was for his childlike behavior rather than his performance in the game.
Sheer talent only took OBJ so far as he began to develop a habit of getting injured. A player that was not taking his team to the next level and was unpredictable on the bench was not a relevant player. In 2019, Beckham briefly made headlines for his move to the Cleveland Browns. His performance with the minimally publicized team caught slight attention from reporters. His recovery from a plethora of injuries took a noticeable toll on his natural abilities.
However, in 2021 OBJ slowly broke into the headlines again. Being traded to the Rams meant more natural publicity as well as new opportunities. For the first time in his career, the responsibility of bringing a team to the playoffs, and ideally the Super Bowl, did not fall on his shoulders. OBJ joined the Rams at a time when the organization had a strong offensive and defensive line, bound for success, in contrast with a team such as the 2017 Giants. Joining the Rams as they won the Super Bowl brought Beckham’s name back into the limelight. However, he was nowhere near as relevant as he once was.
So why is his name back to dominating the headlines? While his talent no longer causes jaws to drop, it is back to reigniting fans. Following his signing with the Ravens, Baltimore fans have found a new hope for the future of their team. The recent questioning of Lamar Jackson’s future seems to be a little less concerning with OBJ on his team. Jackson and OBJ seem to have a promising relationship. While he is good, not great now, Baltimore seems as though it could reignite OBJ’s initial spark. The Ravens and OBJ have the potential to bring out the best in one another, bringing him back to the forefront of NFL reporting. However, he will be watched like a hawk. Fans and reporters alike will be watching with the hope his natural talent will return, making him relevant once again.