A lot was going on in New York this weekend, as Fanatics Fest was the place to be for professional athletes from all over the world. Plenty of headlines were made that captured the attention of Giants fans, such as the ongoing saga between legendary quarterbacks Eli Manning and Tom Brady, which dates back to those infamous Super Bowls. And then there were unexpected comments made by an expected former Giants player.
There is a long history between New York and Odell Beckham Jr., who was selected by the team in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. All signs pointed to a new lifelong Giant in the new superstar, only for that dream to burn after just four seasons, leaving fans angry at how it all went down.
Making matters worse, Beckham added fuel to the fire with things he's said over the years, making it even stranger to hear him seem receptive to going back to where he became a superstar, as a fan yelled for him to return to the Giants over the weekend.
Fan yells “Go back to the Giants” to Odell Beckham Jr.
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) June 21, 2025
“I got you.” pic.twitter.com/3JDvb5M4gj
If that weren't enough to tug at the heartstrings, Beckham further commented on his feelings about the Giants, leaving fans uncertain about what happened back in 2018 and whether a reunion could still be a possibility.
Odell Beckham Jr. claims he never wanted to leave the Giants in the first place
Although the fascination with Beckham feels like a thing of the past, especially since he's suffered several injuries in the years since, and barely played during the 2024 season, there are still a bunch of "what-ifs?" regarding his time with the Giants.
Now, hearing that despite his behavior on and off the field during his last season with the team, he never wanted to be traded, makes things a bit more complicated, mainly because he's at a point in his career where he could potentially return in 2025.
"I never, ever wanted to leave the New York Giants. The reason you heard me talking about what was going on was because I was pissed because, where I come from in college, if we lost one game, our season was over.
This was the organization I got drafted to. They believed in me. So if the Giants went and won a Super Bowl, I would be happy. But deep down inside, I wanted to be the one. No question. So it's definitely you'll always hold that. But then someone like me, I went to the LA Rams, won a Super Bowl. But still, you just want that."
Is that something fans want, though?
It's hard to say, given that Beckham is 32 years old and hasn't been healthy for much of the past several years. Plus, things have changed dramatically in the years since he was initially traded to the Browns, so that it wouldn't be a proper reunion of sorts.
However, it might have the makings of a feel-good story, with the Giants hoping to get back on track and become a competitive team again. What better way to do that than add another weapon to the offense for Russell Wilson to work with? There was a point in time when a Wilson-to-Beckham connection would have been a thing of magic.
Regardless of what happens, it's fascinating to hear such comments from a player who once looked like he couldn't wait to leave New York. Whether it's entirely accurate and lined with regret or a last-ditch effort to secure a signing for the 2025 season is irrelevant; it'll be interesting to see if the Giants take the bait.