Giants coach John Harbaugh gives brutally honest reason why Odell Beckham Jr.’s comeback came to an abrupt end
John Harbaugh has offered a brutal explanation after cutting Odell Beckham Jr from the New York Giants roster.
Beckham Jr returned to the franchise where he became an NFL superstar as a rookie back in 2014 to make an NFL comeback after missing the 2025 season entirely.
After an April workout, he was re-signed by the Giants on June 1, handing him a reunion with the head coach he played with in Baltimore in 2023.
But Beckham Jr failed to register a catch in the first three games of the regular season and has now been cut from the team.
Harbaugh has now shared why he decided enough was enough and brought his comeback to an abrupt end.
‘Had a great conversation with Odell,’ Harbaugh explained. ‘And it’s tough. We just weren’t getting enough. It just wasn’t working for us.
Odell Beckham Jr has been released by the New York Giants after just three games
Head coach John Harbaugh explained Wednesday why the decision was taken to cut Beckham
‘I wanted to be able to give more, I wanted him to be able to do more. I wanted to get him on the field more.’
‘For 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 need to move on.
‘Nothing about Odell, nothing that he could do, it’s just we weren’t able to get it done, make it fit, make it work. I was hoping we could, and we didn’t.’
He later insisted that fans chanting for the popular receiver and the weekly questions about him had no impact on the decision to release him.
Beckham Jr is now expected to pursue another opportunity in the league that will offer him a better chance to contribute.
Beckham had rejoined the Giants on a one-year, $1.3 million deal, but was only on the field for 20 offensive snaps during the opening three games.
Moments after Beckham Jr.’s release was announced, the Giants signed veteran receiver Braxton Berrios to the active roster and fellow receiver Charlie Jones from the practice squad.
Giants teammates were quick to wish Beckham Jr every success elsewhere as news of his release broke.
Beckham did not have any catches and played just 20 snaps in the first three games of the year
Beckham played under Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens back in 2023 before their reunion
‘Wishing him the best,’ edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux said. ‘He´s a legend in the game, and he´s fought so hard to make his way back in this league.
‘And he´s definitely going to be able to make a statement somewhere, so I´m not worried for him.’
‘I love playing with `O,” said tight end Isaiah Likely, who was also teammates with Beckham on the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. ‘Hopefully, wherever he ends up, he does what Odell does.’
Earlier in the week, Giants sealed a shock trade for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy following the season-ending injury suffered by Jaxson Dart.
Minnesota agreed to send McCarthy to New York in exchange for a fifth-round pick.
The move comes after Dart was ruled out for the remainder of the regular season following a knee injury suffered during their Week 2 defeat by the Rams.
While veteran Jameis Winston led New York to a gritty 12-7 win over the Titans on Sunday, general manager Joe Schoen and Harbaugh wasted no time in adding further depth to their quarterback room.
The Giants had previously evaluated McCarthy prior to the 2024 NFL Draft but opted to select Malik Nabers with the sixth overall pick.
McCarthy, 23, was selected 10th overall by Minnesota two years ago after leading Michigan to a national championship under John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim.
However, the 23-year-old found himself relegated to third on the Vikings’ depth chart this season behind starter Kyler Murray and backup Carson Wentz.
