Odell Beckham Jr. was cut by the New York Giants on Wednesday, and he responded to the news by agreeing with the fan who insulted the team. OBJ replied to the fan’s Instagram video, admitting he “shoulda known better.”
The move ended one of the feel-good stories of the early NFL season. Beckham turns 34 next month and returned to the Giants this offseason after years away, earning a spot on the final 53-man roster. He played just 20 offensive snaps through three games and recorded zero receptions. Fans chanted his name during New York’s Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans. The next day, the team released him.
“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 $$$”
Fan Video and OBJ’s Reply
One football fan made an Instagram video insulting John Harbaugh, Joe Schoen and the Giants organization. The creator argued the team used OBJ to make money, bringing him back to create a storyline and drum up fan interest with no intent to actually use him. Beckham saw the video and replied directly.
OBJ’s Statement on the Release
In what may be his first public comments since being released, Beckham said the Giants “won” because of the attention he brought. He accepted a veteran minimum contract and said he “didn’t see this one my brotha!”
He also addressed the emotional cost. “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…” he wrote.
The Son’s Number Preference
Beckham’s son prefers the number 3. Beckham found that “very interesting.”
Harbaugh’s Explanation
Harbaugh addressed Beckham’s release this week, saying it “just wasn’t working for us.”
“I had a great conversation with Odell, and it’s tough,” Harbaugh said, via SNY. “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.”
The Replacement
The Giants signed wide receiver and punt returner Braxton Berrios to the active roster, along with Charlie Jones.
A Career That Fell Off
Beckham hasn’t crossed 55 yards receiving in a season since 2023 with the Baltimore Ravens. His one year with the Miami Dolphins came in 2024. He went unsigned in 2025 while being suspended six games for violating the NFL’s policies on performance-enhancing drugs.
The Instagram Message
Beckham’s statement posted on Instagram reads as a grown man processing a professional disappointment. The mix of humility, self-awareness and genuine emotion is the most notable part of his response.
The Reaction to His Own Release
The story has everything: a beloved player, a loyal fanbase, a coach admitting the decision was difficult, and a social media rant that the player himself endorsed. For a player who once carried the league on his shoulders, the exit is quiet.
Time will tell if Beckham catches on with another team. For now, the story belongs to the son who liked the number 3.
Source material: “Odell Beckham Jr. addresses Giants cutting him: 'I shoulda known better',” CBS Sports.
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