Eli Manning joked about coming out of retirement in an exchange with a New York Giants fan on social media about the possible return of receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
23:34 ET, 07 May 2026Updated 23:39 ET, 07 May 2026
Eli Manning
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Eli Manning retired in 2019(Image: Getty Images)
Longtime New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is always known as a jokester off the field, even in his retirement. The two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback was at it again this week.
Manning waded into the rumor mill on X, responding to a post by a fan calling for the Giants to resign Manning's former teammate, Odell Beckham Jr. New York reportedly brought in their former first-round pick for a tryout earlier in the offseason.
A post showed a compilation of Beckham's best plays. "All these Giants signings have been great and all, but there’s still one final piece missing…" it read. Manning, 45, took the opportunity to respond.
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"Guys, I’m not coming back to play! Stop asking," he wrote. His post generated nearly 40,000 likes and over a million impressions in 24 hours.
Manning threw more touchdown passes to Beckham (44) than any other player in his 16-year career. The receiver known as OBJ hasn't been a solid contributor in an NF: offense since 2021.
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Beckham was a Pro Bowler in each of his first three seasons in New York.
Injuries slowed his 2017 and 2018 campaigns, and he was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a package that included a first-round pick.
He played for current Giants coach John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, catching 34 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns for the AFC's top seed.
Eli Manning
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Odell Beckham Jr. and Manning spent five years together in New York(Image: Getty Images)
Harbaugh spoke effusively of Beckham during an April press conference. "He and I do talk. We do text," he said. "We've maintained a really great relationship. He's one of my very favorite people in the world. It's not like you don't talk to guys on things like that. And certainly we have."
He didn't answer whether Beckham is poised to sign for his team, though. "We’ll just have to see where it all goes, what’s best for him, what’s best for the Giants," Harbaugh said.
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New York's top receiver is 2024 first-round pick Malik Nabers, who is coming back from an ACL tear. Darius Slayton profiles as the No. 2 target, while free-agent signings Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III may compete for touches in the slot.
During an April appearance on the Pat McAfee show, ESPN Insider Adam Schefter seemed confident that Beckham will eventually sign with the Giants.
“Odell Beckham Jr. and the Giants, it sounds like they’ll get something done,” Schefter said. “At some point in time here. Odell, there’s a real chance he’ll be back with the Giants.”