Harbaugh Acknowledges Dialogue With Beckham About Giants Reunion

PHOENIX — The possibility of Odell Beckham Jr. returning to the New York Giants is more than social-media wish-casting; it is a subject that has been broached directly between the veteran receiver and head coach John Harbaugh.

“We do text. We’ve maintained a really good relationship,” Harbaugh said Monday morning from the Arizona Biltmore, site of the NFL owners’ meetings. “He’s one of my very favorite people in the world.”

Asked whether the two have specifically discussed Beckham putting on a Giants jersey for the first time since March 2019, Harbaugh replied, “Certainly we have.”

Beckham, 33, has not appeared in a regular-season game since a 2024 stint with the Miami Dolphins, yet he has made plain his desire to continue playing and his affinity for the franchise that selected him 12th overall in 2014. A recent one-handed touchdown grab at the Fanatics Flag Football Classic served as a reminder of the flair that once made him a MetLife Stadium favorite.

Harbaugh, who coached Beckham with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, framed any potential acquisition in pragmatic terms.

“You look at every option, and if Odell’s an option we’ll be looking at it, for sure,” he said. “We’ll have to see where it all goes, what’s best for him, what’s best for the Giants. If he helps you be a better team, then you’re gonna pursue that.”

Signing a 33-year-old wideout who does not contribute on special teams would deviate from typical roster-construction models, yet Beckham’s lingering popularity in New York — coupled with what would likely be a low-cost, short-term deal — could soften the football-business math.

Co-owner John Mara, attending the meetings amid an ownership shuffle that has Steve Tisch divesting shares, has repeatedly expressed fondness for Beckham since trading him to Cleveland. A reunion would offer Beckham the chance to finish his career where it began and give the Giants a marketable spark as they seek on-field traction.

Harbaugh, meanwhile, is juggling multiple roster-building fronts. He praised Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love as a “very, very, very good player” when asked about the No. 5 overall pick, and he acknowledged the club is open to trading back if the board and the phones cooperate.

“You’ve got to work the math out on all that,” he said. “Joe [Schoen] will do an amazing job with his staff … we’ll know what we’re willing to do and what we’re not willing to do. That’ll be our plan.”

Whether the Giants’ plan ultimately includes Beckham remains fluid, but the dialogue is active and the door is officially open.