Odell Beckham Jr. Admits Getting a Call From Kevin O’Connell As Soon As Giants Released Him

Odell Beckham Jr. and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell were part of the Los Angeles Rams' 2021 Super Bowl winning roster.

Odell Beckham Jr. Admits Getting a Call From Kevin O’Connell As Soon As Giants Released Him

(L) Odell Beckham Jr. and (R) Kevin O'Connell (Image via IMAGO)

The New York Giants released Odell Beckham Jr. on September 29. A week later, Beckham signed with the Minnesota Vikings and reunited with Kevin O’Connell.

At his first press conference as a Vikings player, OBJ teased that O’Connell played a big part in bringing him to Minnesota. Beckham Jr. said:

It seemed as if [Kevin O’Connell] wanted me to be here. And that was expressed to me. And that feels good. . .  It always feels better when you’re doing it for somebody who, you know, you feel like their heart is there for it as well.

O’Connell was the Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator when the NFC West franchise signed Beckham on a one-year deal in 2021. Beckham caught 27 passes for 305 yards and 5 touchdowns (most since 2018) in 8 appearances.

The Rams faced the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl. Beckham scored the game’s first touchdown. However, he left the field after suffering an ACL injury. The Rams would hang on to win 23–20, earning Beckham his first career Super Bowl championship.

So, Beckham has fond memories of working with O’Connell. He said:

I was with KO [Kevin O’Connell] in LA. I had a great time when I was there with him. He was just somebody who I’ve watched come over here, and always knew when he was over there, he was built for what he is doing now.

OBJ began the current campaign with the Giants. However, the Giants released him after failing to register a single catch in three games. In an Instagram comment section that revealed his release, OBJ wrote that he didn’t expect the Giants to cut him. However, the hardest part was breaking the news to his son—”hurt my heart to the core,” OBJ wrote.

The Giants drafted Beckham with the 12th overall pick in the 2014 draft. During his first stint with the G-Men, OBJ caught 390 passes for 5,476 yards and scored 44 touchdowns in 59 games. The Giants traded OBJ to the Cleveland Browns. He later admitted that he never wanted to leave the Giants and dreamt of winning the Super Bowl with them.

Beckham spent 29 games in Cleveland. The team waived him after six games in 2021. He joined the Rams and won a ring. However, he entered free agency for the second time after the Rams didn’t extend his contract.

In 2023, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens and played 14 games. The following year, he joined the Miami Dolphins. But just 9 appearances later, the Dolphins released the Pro Bowl wideout.

OBJ went without a team for nearly 18 months. Meanwhile, the Giants appointed John Harbaugh as head coach. Harbaugh and OBJ had known each other since their Baltimore days. The Giants re-signed him to a one-year deal but released him following the Giants’ win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 3.

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Odell Beckham Jr. revealed why he chose to wear No. 9 for the Vikings

Fans associate Beckham with No. 13. He caught the highlight-reel touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys wearing 13 on his jersey.

Odell Beckham Jr. Admits Getting a Call From Kevin O’Connell As Soon As Giants Released Him
Odell Beckham Jr. (Image via IMAGO)

At Minnesota, the 33-year-old has picked No.9 after it was vacated by JJ McCarthy, who was traded to the Giants a day before his release. When asked the reason behind choosing McCarthy’s former number, Beckham teased Justin Jefferson role in the decision. OBJ said:

I told Justin Jefferson I picked Number 9 because he got half his game for me.

Jefferson missed the Vikings’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins after suffering a left ankle sprain in the game against the Buccaneers. According to the Vikings media, Jefferson is questionable for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints.

But that’s not the reason OBJ was signed. The veteran adds much-needed depth and quality to the Vikings roster. Beckham’s experience will come in handy in January.

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