Odell Beckham Jr. Makes Bold Justin Jefferson Claim While Explaining New Vikings Jersey Number 1
Odell Beckham Jr. has found a new home in Minnesota. The Vikings moved to 4-0 with a 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but they did not score a touchdown without star receiver Justin Jefferson. Beckham joined the team this week, and his first chat with reporters included a playful line that spread online. The explanation behind one small detail drew plenty of laughs.
Odell Beckham Jr. explains Vikings jersey number choice
Beckham signed with the Minnesota Vikings‘ practice squad on Wednesday and was assigned No. 9. That number belonged earlier this season to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whom Minnesota traded to the New York Giants on Sept. 28 for a 2027 fifth-round pick. The trade left the digit open for the veteran receiver.
He explained the choice with a joke. “The reason I picked 9 is because Justin got half his game from me,” Beckham told reporters.
Odell Beckham Jr. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson
Aug 15, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) talks with Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) and head coach Kevin O’Connell before the game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
The joke has some history behind it. Both players are LSU alumni, and Jefferson once passed Beckham’s record for receiving yards through a player’s first two seasons. Jefferson reached 2,851 yards in December 2021, topping Beckham’s mark of 2,755.
Jefferson also said, “We’ve been brothers for a very, very long time.”
“The reason I picked 9 is because Justin got half his game from me.” 😂 https://t.co/gF3S7cXMFc
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2026
Depth is the goal. Minnesota ranks last in the NFL in passing, and no wideout on the roster has 15 catches yet, according to USA Today. Beckham will need to earn a game-day role from the practice squad.
But Beckham’s road to Minnesota began with a short and frustrating stop in New York.
How Beckham’s Giants return ended after three games
Beckham, who did not play in 2025, rejoined the Giants in June, returning to the team that drafted him 12th overall in 2014. The reunion ended on Sept. 29 when New York released him.
He had one target and no catches in three games, and the offense was reorienting behind quarterback Jameis Winston after Jaxson Dart’s season-ending knee injury.
Odell Beckham Jr
Sep 27, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Beckham responded on Instagram, saying he returned humbly on a veteran minimum deal and expected to contribute. Beckham later wrote, “I shoulda known better.”
Minnesota moved fast, signing him about a week later. Head coach Kevin O’Connell worked with Beckham on the 2021 Rams, who won Super Bowl LVI with him on the roster. That shared history helps explain the quick deal.
Beckham remains on the practice squad for now, while Jefferson, who is recovering from an ankle sprain, practiced in a limited role Wednesday. The unbeaten Vikings visit the Saints at the Superdome on Oct. 11 before their bye, in a homecoming for both Louisiana stars.
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