Image via Getty/Grant Halverson
1.
It seems like an eternity ago when he caught his first one-handed catch, but Odell Beckham, Jr. has only been in the league for two seasons. Since his debut last year, the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year has taken the game by storm to become the league's most electrifying receiver while breaking records in the process.
With the most receptions a player's ever had in his first two seasons, a Pro Bowl appearance in his rookie season, and a Madden cover, Beckham has already attained household name status. And while his receiving stats and crazy catches have something to do with that, it's his expressive personality both on and off the field that is turning the most heads lately. From fights with defensive backs to walking red carpets to being spotted with A-listers like Anna Wintour, Odell’s name is constantly in headlines.
But Beckham's still new—how much do we really know about him? Consider this your crash course. Here are 17 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know about Odell Beckham, Jr.
2.He considers Shaq an uncle.
Odell’s parents aren’t the only influential athletes in his life. In fact, Shaquille O’Neal has been a part of Beckham’s life since he was a baby (Shaq and Odell Beckham Sr. used to be roommates at LSU). The future NBA Hall of Famer—or Uncle Shaq to Odell—is also the wideout's godfather.
3.His favorite romantic movie is “Lady and the Tramp.”
The Notebook? Titanic? Pretty Woman? All of these are great romantic movies, but to Odell, nothing can top Disney’s 1955 classic Lady and the Tramp. I mean, what other movie is there that includes dogs sharing a candlelight dinner under the stars?
4.He proclaims that his style icon is himself.
Now Odell has definitely had some great fashion moments—that fire red suit at the ESPYs being one of them. Yet when asked who he looks towards for fashion inspiration, Beckham nonchalantly said himself. Props.
5.He's only 5-foot-11
John Mayer, Brooke Shields, Seal, and Taylor Swift all have at least one thing in common: they are all taller than Odell Beckham Jr. And while he stands at only 5-foot-11, which is on the shorter end for wide receivers, his height is definitely not holding him back.
6.His parents were both accomplished athletes.
Athleticism runs in the Beckham family. Both of his parents were stars at LSU where Odell followed in their footsteps. His dad, Odell Beckham, Sr., was a running back for the football team and his mom, Heather Van Norman, was a 6-time All-American track star. Even his stepdad, Derek Mills, was no slouch, himself winning a gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay at the 1996 Olympics.
7.Jarvis Landry is the reason for Odell’s infamous one-handed catch.
If you didn’t already know Miami Dolphins’ Jarvis Landry and Beckham go way back. In fact, Odell even has Landry to thank for his infamous one-handed catch. When they first met, before they were both NFL stars—and before they were both LSU stars—they would meet every day to practice, with Landry eventually introducing Beckham to the art of the one handed catch. And, as we all know, the rest is history.
8.Beckham and Eli Manning have a history together before the Giants.
The love story between a wide receiver and a quarterback usually begins on the field. But in the case of Odell and Eli, they got a taste of the soon-to-be romance a lot earlier. When the Manning family came to Louisiana for a visit, Odell got the chance to throw the ball around with Eli and brother Peyton during a high school practice. Turns out both Odell and the Manning family are all graduates of Newton High School. How’s that for six degrees of separation?
10.His favorite meal is his dad's chicken casserole.
If you didn’t already know, Beckham is a native to Louisiana, which means he knows good food. In fact, if he’s saying his favorite meal is his dad’s chicken casserole, well then it must be a pretty damn good casserole.
11.He earned a tryout for the U.S. National Youth Soccer Team at only 13 years old.
As you can conclude, Beckham is no stranger to athletics. Football, soccer, basketball, baseball—it would appear any sport he tries his hand at, he can’t fail. In fact he was so good at soccer, he earned a tryout for a spot on the U.S. National Youth Soccer Team. He evidently turned it down to pursue a career in football.
12.He’s the youngest player to appear on the Madden cover.
At only 22 years old, after only one season in the NFL, Beckham has already had the honor of gracing the Madden NFL 16 cover. And while that’s impressive in itself, it would appear that Odell has also been able to avoid the “Madden Curse” this season, too.
13.His favorite Kardashian, if he had to pick, is Kim.
We all have our favorites of the Kardashian Klan, and it would appear that Beckham's is none other than the ring leader herself, Kim Kardashian. And maybe if Kim and Kanye weren’t a thing it could happen. After all, Kim has been known to like football players.
14.He always knew he'd be playing on Sundays.
He promised his mom at the age of 4 that he would make it to the NFL. When she saw him in the backyard and asked what he was doing he said, “I’m practicing for Sundays.”
15.His dream is to one day own a pair of Nike Air Mags.
You'd think he would be able to fulfill this dream by now, no?
16.His idol is LeBron James.
Makes sense considering when he was asked if it was a bigger honor to eat dinner with James or win NFL Offensive Rookie of the month, he picked the dinner.
17.Drake motivates him to be great.
He says his biggest motivation is Drake. His music is what puts Beckham in a certain motive and vibe.
18.His childhood idol was David Beckham.
The whole last name thing or the soccer thing? Regardless, at least it was a football player.