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Odell Beckham Jr describes his iconic catch as both “a blessing and a curse” and explains his philosophy of not getting caught up in criticism.
Odell Beckham Jr describes his iconic catch as both “a blessing and a curse” and explains his philosophy of not getting caught up in criticism.
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. described his famous one-handed touchdown that launched him into superstardom in 2014 as both “a blessing and a curse.”
In an exclusive interview with Aerial sportsBeckham said his score while playing for the New York Giants — the team that drafted him 12th overall that year — changed his life overnight.
Now 30 and a member of his fourth NFL team after joining the Ravens in the offseason, Beckham opened up about his newfound maturity in the face of criticism, as well as his “one-of-a-kind” quarterback in Lamar Jackson and his excitement about playing in London this weekend as Baltimore takes on the Tennessee Titans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
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“In an instant, it changed my life forever,” Beckham said of his famous catch against the Dallas Cowboys nine years ago.
“It’s allowed me to do everything I’m capable of doing now and it’s allowed me to close a lot of deals and money and that sort of thing.
“On the other hand, it took away some of the privacy that I try so hard to protect. You’re already a public figure and then this happens: it’s never the same again.
“I wouldn’t trade it, I wouldn’t take it back. It was truly one of the greatest things in my life, but I feel like it made my whole career around that moment. I’m more than just a moment.”
Beckham, a rookie at the time, became the first player to record more than 75 receptions, 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first NFL season. But he admits he struggled to adjust to his sudden celebrity status.
“You can’t prepare someone for glory,” he added. “No matter how you arrange principles or morals, you can’t prepare yourself for what a person is going to feel because of fame and all these things.
“For someone like me, the spotlight is cool, but once it’s off, I’m very relaxed and I’m exactly the way I am.”
After three stellar first seasons in New York, an injury cut Beckham’s 2017 season short and he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in rather acrimonious fashion after 2018.
He struggled to replicate his success in Cleveland and, although he won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021 after forcing his departure from the Browns mid-season, Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the match itself and was sidelined for the entire match. 2022.
Odell Beckham Jr was injured midway through the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl LVI victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
A nine-year veteran of the league and now based in Baltimore, Beckham says he finds it much easier to deal with his critics.
“I feel like we as humans, everyone wants to be loved,” he said. “But I think once you get hung up on trying to be liked or always pleasing everyone, you’re in a game that you’ll lose forever.
“I always say that hand sanitizer kills 99.9 percent of germs…there’s always going to be a little bit (of criticism), no matter how positive your mindset is.
“It’s unfortunate, but it’s the business we’re in. For me, personally, I don’t get too caught up in it anymore. My biggest advice for people who receive criticism is, ‘If you can’t I can’t handle it, don’t worry. ‘I’m not reading it.'”
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Speaking on Her Huddle, Gregg Rosenthal and Phoebe Schecter analyze Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and reflect on where he can still improve.
OBJ: Jackson ‘worth all the money in the world’
The Ravens are 3-2 heading into Sunday’s clash against the Titans in London – live on Sky Sports NFL from 2:30 p.m. – and with Beckham yet to fully make his mark on the team.
He had just 66 receiving yards on five catches in two starts, with a problematic ankle sidelining him for the other three games, but he was full of praise for his quarterback Lamar Jackson, who signed a new five-year, $260 million contract with Baltimore in the summer.
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Odell Beckham Jr shows his excitement at being able to team up with quarterback Lamar Jackson and says he’s “worth all the money in the world.”
“I remember catching myself one time watching him run and then suddenly thinking, ‘oh, I have to go block him,'” Beckham said. “He’s definitely worth all the money in the world. He’s one of a kind.
“For me, when I looked at the teams, there was something very intriguing about the Ravens.
“It’s not the start I wanted, but the season is long. Anything can happen and you just have to keep your head down, stay focused and try to get better every day.”
Beckham is expected to play this Sunday against Tennessee and hopes to help the team get back to winning ways, in his second visit to London with the NFL after playing at Twickenham in a 17-10 win over the Rams in 2016 .
“When I came out the first time we played, everyone was wearing their team jerseys that they liked but still going to the game. I thought that was pretty cool,” he said.
“It’s come a long way since then. And I think it’s only going to grow and continue to grow and get better.
“I’ve been to a few soccer games here before and just seeing the fans, the energy, the atmosphere, I always thought if American soccer had that, it would be pretty crazy. It’s so really exciting.”
Watch the Baltimore Ravens take on the Tennessee Titans from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium live on Sky Sports NFL on Sunday, with kick-off at 2:30 p.m. Stream the 2023 NFL season on Sky Sports with NOW.