Geno Stone #26 and Odell Beckham Jr. #3 of the Baltimore Ravens high-five prior to the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium on January 20, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is back in the spotlight after an impressive showing at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic. The veteran receiver, who has not played in an NFL game since December 2024, helped Team USA dominate the exhibition event and delivered one of the tournament’s most memorable highlights. Beckham’s performance immediately sparked speculation about a potential NFL comeback — and even opened the door to a possible future with Team USA’s Olympic flag football program.
Odell Beckham Jr. Impresses at Team USA Flag Football Event
Vic Tafur
Asked Team USA which NFL player impressed them the most at Saturday’s flag football tournament and the answer was … Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham stood out during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic, finishing with 10 catches for 68 yards and three touchdowns.
One of the biggest moments came when Beckham hauled in a one-handed touchdown catch over a defender, drawing attention from fans and coaches at the event.
Team USA flag football coach Jorge Cascudo said Beckham’s play was strong enough to warrant consideration for the national team.
“I was, like, ‘Whoa, if Odell wants a spot, we may have one for him,’” Cascudo said, according to The Athletic’s Tim Graham and Vic Tafur.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, creating a potential new path for professional football players interested in representing the United States.
Beckham’s performance at the event showed that the three-time Pro Bowl receiver still has the ability to make highlight plays even while using a smaller ball during the flag football tournament.
OBJ Still Hoping for Another NFL Opportunity
Beckham has made it clear that his primary goal remains returning to the NFL.
The veteran receiver last appeared in a regular-season game on December 8, 2024, while playing for the Miami Dolphins. He spent the entire 2025 season unsigned but continues to pursue another opportunity.
During the Fanatics event, Beckham spoke with Kay Adams about his hopes for the upcoming season.
“Looking forward to hopefully getting an opportunity to play this year, and hopefully, this is kinda just a starting point,” Beckham said.
Adams also asked Beckham about the possibility of returning to the New York Giants, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
“Weird, you said that. That sounds great,” Beckham said when the idea was raised. “If that opportunity presents itself, I would love to do that. Be excited about that.”
He also spoke positively about Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart.
“He’s a good dude. He’s young, and he likes to dance. I like all that. So he looks like he likes to have fun,” Beckham said.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s NFL Career Includes Ravens Season and $95 Million Contract
Beckham has had one of the most recognizable careers among wide receivers of his generation.
He played five seasons with the New York Giants after being selected with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 draft. During his early years in New York, Beckham recorded five consecutive seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards.
In August 2018, Beckham signed a five-year, $95 million contract extension with the Giants. The deal included $65 million in guarantees and briefly made him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL.
Beckham later spent time with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. He helped the Rams win the Super Bowl that year.
After missing the entire 2022 season due to injury, Beckham signed with the Baltimore Ravens in April 2023 on a one-year, $15 million guaranteed deal that could reach $18 million with incentives.
He became an unrestricted free agent in March 2024 before eventually joining the Miami Dolphins for part of the 2024 season.