PHOENIX — Odell Beckham Jr. came to the Arizona Biltmore during the NFL’s annual meetings and met with New York Giants coach John Harbaugh on Monday about potentially joining the team, sources told ESPN.
Beckham also stated his case to team brass. Multiple sources told ESPN no deal is imminent.
But there is some degree of interest from the Giants, even though Beckham did not play this past season. The 33-year-old wide receiver has already stated his desire to return to the place where it all began.
There is at least a possibility of Beckham having a workout with the team in the coming weeks. The Giants would likely need to see that before there being any real chance of a reunion.
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“Typically, if it’s not one of these higher-paid guys, coming off a season where — we’re not going to work out [newly signed tight end] Isaiah Likely or somebody — but somebody that hasn’t played, in this instance you’re talking about Odell hasn’t played in a year, you’d certainly want to see him work out,” general manager Joe Schoen said Monday.
It was an easy commute for Beckham to pop into the hotel where most of the NFL world has congregated this week. He currently lives and trains in Arizona.
Beckham has been training as if he will return to the NFL this season. He has not been shy about his desire to return to New York.
“That sounds great; if that opportunity presents itself, I would love to do that. I would be excited about that,” Beckham said to sports show host Kay Adams in an interview before the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Los Angeles earlier this month.
It would take Harbaugh’s approval to get him back into the NFL and to New York. Harbaugh spoke favorably about Beckham on Monday morning.
Beckham played under Harbaugh in Baltimore during the 2023 season. He had 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns that season.
“He and I do talk. We do text,” Harbaugh said. “We’ve maintained a really great relationship. He’s one of my very favorite people in the world. It’s not like you don’t talk to guys on things like that. And certainly, we have.”
Beckham has seemed more willing than the Giants to date. New York re-signed veteran wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and added Darnell Mooney and Calvin Austin III in free agency over the past month.
Schoen said Beckham’s name has been on their list of available free agents.
“If we find a player that’s gonna help us, that makes sense for the organization, we’ll continue to pursue,” Schoen said. “So, he’s on there, if it makes sense. I know [Harbaugh] talked about it a little bit earlier. We’ll never not pursue someone that can help.”
The veteran receiver has the support of some of the current Giants players. Multiple sources told ESPN that quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receiver Malik Nabers have informed the team that they would support adding Beckham. Dart mentioned earlier this offseason that he spoke to Beckham about Harbaugh after he was hired as the Giants coach. Nabers went on Instagram recently and publicly petitioned for Beckham.
“Let’s play together,” Nabers commented on an Instagram post from Beckham.
Nabers and Beckham are LSU products and have a preexisting relationship.
One day after Beckham, the Giants’ first-round pick in the 2014 NFL draft, made his case for a return, 2010 first-round pick Jason Pierre-Paul did the same on social media.
“@nygiants I’m still available and ready to take on some OT’s and dominate in run-stop football the GIANTS WAY. Let’s make it happen, Giant Fans, Giant Nation Let’s go!! I know I know I know,” Pierre-Paul wrote on X.
@nygiants I’m still available and ready to take on some OT’s and dominate in run-stop football the GIANTS WAY. Let’s make it happen, Giant Fans, Giant Nation Let’s go!! I know I know I know
— Jason Pierre-Paul (@UDWJPP) March 31, 2026
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed Pierre-Paul, 37, late last year. He appeared in three games and did not record a sack.
Pierre-Paul told ESPN last summer he wanted to continue playing in part because he had 100 career sacks on his radar. He currently has 94.5.
Returning to the Giants was something he was open to then as well. The feelings were not necessarily reciprocated.
Much like Beckham, Pierre-Paul also has a preexisting relationship with Harbaugh. Pierre-Paul spent the 2022 season playing under Harbaugh in Baltimore.
