Odell Beckham Jr. Reflects on Giants Trade: ‘I Never Wanted to Leave’

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Odell Beckham Jr. expressed his true feelings about being traded from the New York Giants in a recent broadcast during the UEFA Champions League final on Paramount Plus. The wide receiver stated, “I never, ever wanted to leave the New York Giants.” This reveal came more than four years after his controversial trade to the Cleveland Browns in March 2019.

Beckham was a first-round pick for the Giants in 2014 and spent five successful seasons with the team. Fans were heartbroken when he left, and Beckham himself felt a deep connection to the franchise. During the broadcast, he said, “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.”

The trade followed a tumultuous period for Beckham in New York, marked by frustrations over the team’s performance. He recalled the high expectations from his college days, where a single loss could end the season. This sense of urgency contributed to his bitterness about the situation with the Giants.

Despite receiving a five-year, $90 million contract from the Giants, Beckham was shipped to Cleveland less than seven months later. Since then, he has played for several teams, including the Los Angeles Rams, with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2022, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Miami Dolphins. However, Beckham described his time with the Rams as bittersweet, stating that he still longs for recognition from his initial team.

As a free agent currently, Beckham’s journey includes numerous highs and lows. He retains a solid legacy from his early years with the Giants, highlighted by memorable moments such as his iconic one-handed catch against the Dallas Cowboys. However, he acknowledges that his departure from New York was a difficult chapter. As he reflects on his career, it is clear that the Giants will always hold a special place in his heart.