Odell Beckham Jr., three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and former New York Giants first-round pick, spent the better part of two years on the free agent market with almost nothing happening around his name. That changed this weekend.
The 33-year-old appeared at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles on March 21, an exhibition organized by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. His performance there was enough to get NFL front offices paying attention again.
He made a one-handed touchdown catch, then followed it up with another one-handed grab on an extra point conversion attempt. Both moments circulated on social media.
Fox Sports insider Jordan Schultz reported Monday that Beckham has received renewed interest from multiple teams and fully intends to play in 2026.
Beckham’s flag football showing puts his NFL return back in play
NFL Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Jan 13, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Football wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. attends the game between the Miami Heat and the Phoenix Suns at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
The event was held at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, with current and former NFL stars competing across a round-robin format. Beckham played for the Wildcats FFC alongside Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow.
His standout catch came off a pass from Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Beckham went up with one hand in the back corner of the end zone and brought it down over a defender.
He scored another touchdown from Burrow later in the game. Both catches reminded people why, at one point, Beckham was regarded as one of the more gifted receivers in football.
Before the event, Beckham told TV personality Kay Adams what he was aiming for.
“Looking forward to hopefully getting an opportunity to play this year, and hopefully, this is kinda just a starting point,” he told Adams.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted after the game that Beckham felt healthy and believed he could still contribute to an NFL roster.
Where Beckham could land if NFL teams decide to take a chance
His recent résumé is thin. He played nine games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, catching nine passes for 55 yards before being released in December. He did not play at all in 2025.
He also missed the entire 2022 season recovering from a torn ACL suffered with the Rams, the year they won Super Bowl LVI. His availability, not his talent, has consistently been the bigger problem.
Odell Beckham Jr.
Mar 21, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wildcats FFC receiver Odell Beckham Jr. during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Schefter specifically mentioned the Giants as a possible destination, calling a reunion there something that “would make some sense.” The New England Patriots and San Francisco have also surfaced in conversations.
Beckham has compiled 7,987 career receiving yards and 59 touchdowns across 10 NFL seasons. He is no longer a first option, but his experience and route-running background make a case for a closer look.
The flag football game gave Beckham a platform that no standard free agent workout could have provided. At 33, with two lost seasons behind him, his NFL future was looking increasingly uncertain before this weekend.