Giants Release Odell Beckham Jr. After Three Games: Inside the Short-Lived Homecoming

The New York Giants officially ended the Odell Beckham Jr. reunion on Tuesday, releasing the three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver after just three games of the 2024 season. The move concludes a brief, largely symbolic homecoming that generated significant buzz but produced zero receptions and only 20 offensive snaps for the 31-year-old veteran.

The Release and Immediate Fan Reaction

Beckham, who signed a one-year, veteran-minimum contract this offseason, earned a spot on the initial 53-man roster but quickly found himself on the periphery of the offense. Through the Giants’ first three contests—a loss to Minnesota, a win over Washington, and a Week 3 victory against Tennessee at MetLife Stadium—he was targeted just once.

Despite the minimal usage, the MetLife crowd made its feelings known. During the Titans game, “OBJ” chants rang out from the stands, a reminder of the electricity he once brought to East Rutherford during his record-setting rookie campaign in 2014. The disconnect between fan enthusiasm and coaching-staff reality became a flashpoint almost immediately after the transaction was announced.

Beckham’s Emotional Response on Social Media

In what may be his first public comments since the release, Beckham responded to an Instagram video by user realbcasbreaks that criticized the organization—including general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll—for allegedly using Beckham as a marketing tool with no intention of playing him. (Note: The source material referenced John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach; the Giants’ head coach is Brian Daboll.)

“Im super smart !!!! But I didn’t see this one my brotha! They got me!!! They won on top of the money u talkin bout I made tnem I came in HUMBLY took vet min then EARNED my spot n didn’t say nothing bout no $$$ which I kno make for everybody … Ima tell u this ima grown man and this Shxt didn’t hurt me but it did when they cut me like that cause part of me is like I shoulda known better.

Now let me tellllll u the realllll deal truth what hurt my heart to the core is comin home and seeing my son and how happy he was with no idea of what happened and talkin bout my job n jersey number 13 broke me tf down.. funny thing about that is he said he likes 3 better n I find that very interesting ..

but again there was no real pain till u get home and ur son gives u that hug like idc what happened daddy ur the best and I love u… nothing better than tht.. but yea idk why they even gave me the run along I coulda really been playing this year somewhere and making a impact and I mean that from a person whose humbled by God and life, so all im doin is gettin ready for whatever God has for me and spreading luv n meantime.”

The raw, unfiltered comment offers a rare window into the human side of an NFL transaction. Beckham acknowledged the business reality—”They won”—while revealing the personal toll: explaining the situation to his young son, who proudly wore his No. 13 jersey.

Giants’ Explanation and Corresponding Roster Moves

Head coach Brian Daboll addressed the decision Wednesday, framing it as a mutual recognition that the fit wasn’t working.

“I had a great conversation with Odell, and it’s tough. But we just weren’t getting enough, you know? It just wasn’t working for us. And like I told him, I wanted to be able to get more. I wanted him to be able to do more, I wanted to get him on the field more. Whatever reason, we weren’t able to do it. Put it on us. We weren’t able to get it done. But at this point in time, that’s kind of where we were and we needed to move on.”

To fill the roster spot, the Giants signed wide receiver and return specialist Braxton Berrios to the active roster, along with Charlie Jones. Berrios, a former Jet and Dolphin, provides punt-return value and slot experience—areas where the Giants have sought consistency.

Beckham’s Recent Career Trajectory

Context matters when evaluating this release. Beckham has not topped 55 receiving yards in a single season since 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. He spent the 2024 offseason with the Miami Dolphins but was released during final cuts.

Complicating matters further, the NFL announced in September 2024 that Beckham was suspended six games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The suspension would have taken effect had he remained on an active roster, meaning any team signing him now would need to navigate that disciplinary timeline.

What’s Next for the Three-Time Pro Bowler

At 31, coming off an ACL tear in Super Bowl LVI and a PED suspension, Beckham’s market is uncertain. Teams needing veteran receiver depth—particularly those with playoff aspirations willing to wait out the suspension—could express interest. The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Dallas Cowboys have all been mentioned in league circles as logical fits, though no reported visits have materialized as of this writing.

Potential Landing Spots

• Kansas City Chiefs — perennial contenders often seeking receiver help midseason
• Buffalo Bills — Josh Allen has welcomed veteran targets in the past
• Dallas Cowboys — familiar division rival with playoff urgency
• Baltimore Ravens — reunion with Lamar Jackson, who advocated for him in 2023
• Detroit Lions — aggressive front office unafraid of reclamation projects

Any signing would likely be for the veteran minimum with minimal guarantees, reflecting both his recent production and the pending suspension. Beckham himself acknowledged this reality in his Instagram comment: “I coulda really been playing this year somewhere and making a impact.”

Conclusion: A Homecoming That Wasn’t Meant to Be

The Odell Beckham Jr. era in New York—take two—ends not with a signature one-handed catch, but with a candid Instagram comment and a father’s drive home to a son who doesn’t understand why Daddy isn’t wearing No. 13 anymore. The Giants got their publicity spike; Beckham got his veto-minimum salary and a reminder that the NFL is, above all, a production business.

Whether another chapter awaits depends on health, the suspension timeline, and a front office willing to bet on the player he was—not the one he’s been since February 2022. For now, the chants at MetLife have faded, replaced by the quiet of an empty locker and a little boy who prefers the number three.

Sports, News, Football, NFL, New York Giants, Odell Beckham Jr., Brian Daboll, Joe Schoen, Braxton Berrios, Charlie Jones, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Performance-Enhancing Drugs Suspension, Veteran Minimum Contract, Wide Receiver, Roster Moves, Athlete Social Media, Fatherhood