The New York Giants announced Monday that Odell Beckham Jr. is returning to the franchise where he began his NFL career. Beckham spent his first five seasons with the Giants, compiling 5,476 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns while earning three Pro Bowl selections.
Beckham was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and later had stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins before sitting out the 2025 season, the team said.
The report noted that Beckham is among several high-profile players who have returned to teams where they initially rose to prominence. Recent NFL examples cited include Keenan Allen, Charles Woodson, James Harrison, Randy Moss and Cam Newton.
Keenan Allen’s first stint with the Los Angeles Chargers ran from 2013-23, during which he made six Pro Bowls and totaled 10,530 yards on 904 receptions with 59 touchdowns. After spending the 2024 season with the Chicago Bears, Allen rejoined the Chargers for 2025 on a one-year deal and recorded 777 yards on 81 receptions with four touchdowns. Allen missed nearly all of 2016 with an ACL tear and earned Comeback Player of the Year in 2017 after a 1,393-yard season with six touchdowns.
Charles Woodson was with the then-Oakland Raiders from 1998-2005 and returned from 2013-15. Drafted fourth overall in 1998, Woodson was a four-time Pro Bowl selection to start his career, won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, earned a first-team All-Pro nod and played a key role in the Raiders’ 2002 run to the Super Bowl. Woodson left for Green Bay in 2006 before finishing his career back in Oakland.
Other examples noted include James Harrison, who had stints with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2002, 2004-12 and 2014-17 and won Defensive Player of the Year in 2008; Randy Moss, who returned to the Minnesota Vikings for part of the 2010 season after his initial 1998-2004 run; and Cam Newton, who returned to the Carolina Panthers in 2021 after his 2011-19 tenure, having been the franchise’s Offensive Rookie of the Year and its only MVP winner.
