John Harbaugh reportedly feels strongly about potential Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. reunion

An update from earlier this week suggested that a potential reunion involving the New York Giants and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would not become official before the first weekend of May wraps up. 

However, it sounds like Giants head coach John Harbaugh is in favor of bringing Beckham in for more than a workout. 

John Harbaugh wants Odell Beckham Jr. for multiple reasons

"The Giants' interest in former superstar receiver Odell Beckham Jr. is real and extends beyond whatever the oft-injured veteran can provide in a limited on-field role, according to several NFL execs who know New York head coach John Harbaugh well," NFL insider Jason La Canfora of SportsBoom US shared for an article published on Thursday. 

Harbaugh was Beckham's head coach when the two were with the Baltimore Ravens during the 2023 season. One longtime personnel executive who spoke with La Canfora noted that Harbaugh "loves" Beckham, so much so that the Giants possibly signing the 33-year-old "is about more than football."

Beckham is now a shell of the player who earned three Pro Bowl nods while with the Giants from 2014 through the 2018 campaign. He hasn't played in an NFL regular-season game since December 2024, and his injury history could lead one to believe that he has little left in the tank. 

That said, Harbaugh is clearly running the Giants' football operations this spring. According to La Canfora, Harbaugh may view Beckham as a needed locker-room presence for a team that recently traded veteran defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals.

How signing Odell Beckham Jr. could help Jaxson Dart, young wide receiver Malik Nabers

"Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart...has a chance to become the face of New York sports, something quite rare and unique. Beckham was that guy for a period of time," La Canfora added. "Beckham has also become a master of learning how to deal with the media, he is still largely beloved by Giants fans, and after not playing last year to try to get his body right, and not making much of a mark in his season with Harbaugh in Baltimore, Beckham is at ease with a more limited role in New York’s offense and, according to league sources, has an understanding of what he has to offer at this stage of his career."

There continues to be no sign that any other team is in a rush to sign Beckham away from the Giants. That said, it seems like Harbaugh may want Beckham at the facility when the organized team practice activity portion of the club's offseason program begins on May 19.