And he by no means had the sense of dwelling a lot as when he felt that he was going there. It was solely when he acquired there that his homelessness started.
– Thomas Wolfe, You Can’t Go Dwelling Once more
I don’t know what I’m looking forI by no means have opened the doorTomorrow may discover me at lastTurning my again on the pastBut, time will inform, of stars that fellA million years agoMemories can by no means take you again, dwelling, candy homeYou can by no means go dwelling anymore.
– The Moody Blues, You Can By no means Go Dwelling
After too lengthy away, he’s lastly again as a member of the New York Giants.
Welcome dwelling, Jason Pinnock!
Oh, you thought I meant the opposite man? OK. After an offseason, and actually a number of years, of hypothesis, Odell Beckham Jr. returned to the Giants after being traded away in 2019. It’s a wildly in style transfer amongst Giants followers, who bear in mind the 4 1,000-yard receiving seasons, the three seasons with no less than 10 touchdowns, the seemingly not possible one-handed landing reception in opposition to Dallas on Monday Night time Soccer in 2014, the slant to the home on fourth right down to beat John Harbaugh’s Ravens in 2016, and even the 57-yard landing go to Saquon Barkley in Carolina in 2018.
The actual fact, although, is that Beckham is now 33, and has two main ACL tears in his left knee in his previous. The OBJ Giants followers bear in mind not exists. The query is whether or not he nonetheless has sufficient left to make the 53-man roster this summer time and what he can contribute if he does. It seems that there are fairly a number of examples of New York skilled athletes coming dwelling for a final hurrah, generally to their authentic crew and infrequently to a unique New York crew. What can we study from these? Let’s take a look at a number of, beginning with two notable former Giants.
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 11: Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants celegrates after scoring in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 11, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Picture by Tom Pennington/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
Jacobs had a seven-year Giants profession throughout which he was one of many league’s greatest and most bodily imposing operating backs, placing collectively two 1,000-yard seasons. By 2011 he was slowing down, although, and was not the lead operating again. The Giants launched him a month after their second Tremendous Bowl victory over the Patriots. He signed with San Francisco for the 2012 season however solely appeared in two video games, with 5 speeding makes an attempt, 7 yards, and 1 TD. After complaining about his lack of taking part in time the 49ers launched him. Jacobs re-signed with the Giants in 2013. He had 58 carries for 238 yards and 4 TDs in seven video games. Jacobs retired after that season, though by 2021 he was lobbying for a return to the NFL…this time as a defensive finish.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 05: Mario Manningham #82 of the New York Giants makes a catch on the sidelines in opposition to Patrick Chung #25 and Sterling Moore #29 of the New England Patriots for a achieve of 39 yards within the fourth quarter throughout Tremendous Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
Manningham was by no means the Giants’ WR1, however he emerged as a key determine within the offense within the years between their first and second Tremendous Bowl runs throughout the Eli Manning period, placing collectively 822- and 944-yard seasons with 14 TDs. He’s etched into Giants lore for the most effective and most necessary catches in Tremendous Bowl historical past. Manning signed with the 49ers after the 2011 season and had one productive yr with them earlier than tearing his ACL and PCL in 2013. He re-signed with the Giants in 2014, however after straining his calf within the preseason he went on injured reserve and was in the end launched with out ever taking part in once more.
Honorable point out: Victor Cruz by no means performed for another NFL crew besides the Giants. Nevertheless, after his brutal 2014 patellar tendon tear in Philadelphia, he not solely missed the remainder of that season, but in addition all the 2015 season after requiring surgical procedure for a calf damage throughout his rehab. Cruz lastly returned for the 2016 season, catching 39 passes for 586 yards and 1 TD. The Giants launched him the next offseason, a transfer that saved them $10M in opposition to the cap. Cruz signed with the Chicago Bears in 2017, however his velocity was gone and he was launched after the preseason. Cruz hoped to re-sign with the Giants, but it surely by no means got here to go.
The Giants weren’t the one native NFL crew to deliver again a former star for Act II:
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 03: Josh McCown #15 of the New York Jets meets with Darrelle Revis #24 of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs after their recreation at MetLife Stadium on December 3, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The New York Jets defeated the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs 38-31. (Picture by Al Bello/Getty Photos) Getty Photos
Corridor of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis performed six years with the New York Jets however suffered a torn ACL (are we seeing a sample right here, Giants followers?) in 2012 and was traded to Tampa Bay in 2013. Revis was one of many uncommon comeback success tales. He began for the Buccaneers in 2013, made the Professional Bowl, and was ranked thirty seventh of the NFL’s high 100 gamers. After a training change, he was launched and signed with the Patriots, the place he made the Professional Bowl and was voted All-Professional in 2014. He returned to the Jets and performed two extra seasons, the primary touchdown him one other Professional Bowl choice, however he didn’t have a very good 2016 and was launched. He signed with Kansas Metropolis however solely performed six video games earlier than being launched and retiring.
Baseball might be the game the place second acts are commonest, as a result of declining athleticism might be masked by considered utilization of gamers. Nonetheless, Father Time catches up with gamers fairly rapidly.
(Unique Caption) New York Mets Willie Mays is proven in his profession homer #660 within the 4th inning in opposition to the Reds.
The baseball New York Giants, lengthy since having decamped to San Francisco, traded a fading Wille Mays to the New York Mets so he might end his profession within the metropolis the place he started his profession and first made his identify as an all-time nice. This was purely a sentimental gesture by Mets possession. Mays dramatically hit a house run in his first Mets look however solely batted .267 with 8 HRs and 19 RBI. Mays returned in 1973, however issues didn’t go properly. He confirmed up late for spring coaching, then left with out notifying Mets supervisor Yogi Berra. Mays was fined when he returned, one author jokingly saying that half the fantastic was for not displaying up and half was for coming again. The 1973 season was no higher than 1972 and Mays retired late within the season.
Aug 9, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; Former New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte pitches throughout the Outdated Timer’s Day recreation at Yankee Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photos Wendell Cruz-Imagn Photos
Pettitte is the uncommon instance of a participant returning to his authentic crew whereas nonetheless being in his prime, or no less than being near it. Pettitte had left the Yankees for the Astros after 9 seasons as a key starter for 4 World Collection Championship groups and for 2 different Yankees World Collection groups. After three seasons in Houston he returned to the Yankees although Houston made him a good supply to remain. Pettitte remained a Yankee on a collection of one-year contracts, taking part in a big position within the beginning rotation. In 2009 he beat the Angels to clinch the ALCS for the Yankees. He then received Recreation 3 and the clinching Recreation 6 of the World Collection in opposition to the Phillies at age 37. Pettitte performed one other season earlier than retiring, however then he returned in 2012 and pitched – successfully – for 2 extra seasons earlier than retiring for good.
June 8, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; New York Yankees Ricky Henderson earlier than the outdated timers recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos
Henderson wasn’t a home-grown Yankee, however in his fifth yr within the main leagues the A’s traded him to the Yankees, the place he was a four-time All-Star however by no means made the playoffs. He was finally traded again to the A’s, the place he acquired a hoop with the 1989 crew within the Earthquake Collection. Ultimately Henderson was traded once more, bounced round a number of extra groups, and was finally traded to the Mets in 1999, the place he received Comeback Participant of the 12 months and acquired to the NL Championship Collection. The Mets misplaced that collection to the Braves, and Henderson and Bobby Bonilla took flak for taking part in playing cards within the clubhouse after they have been faraway from Recreation 6. He was gone early the next season.
Basketball: New York Knicks Mark Jackson (13) in motion vs Golden State Warriors at County Coliseum Enviornment. Oakland, CA 1/24/1992 CREDIT: John W. McDonough (Picture by John W. McDonough /Sports activities Illustrated through Getty Photos) (Set Quantity: X42410 )
Jackson was drafted by the New York Knicks in 1987 and was a starter for a Knicks crew that made the playoffs for 5 consecutive years earlier than he was traded to the LA Clippers. Jackson bounced round with a number of different groups and finally labored his approach again to the Knicks through a commerce from the Toronto Raptors in 2001. Jackson began for the Knicks for a season and a half. The Knicks have been the fourth seed within the NBA playoffs the yr he was traded to them however have been eradicated by Toronto. The next season the Knicks collapsed and Jackson was traded as soon as once more after the season, this time to the Denver Nuggets, the place he had additionally had a earlier stint.
Jan 12, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd seems to be on throughout the first quarter in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets on the American Airways Middle. Necessary Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos
Corridor of Fame level guard Jason Kidd, who started his NBA profession with the Phoenix Suns, was traded after 5 seasons to the New Jersey Nets. he was instrumental in turning the perennial dropping Nets right into a playoff crew for 5 consecutive seasons, together with an look within the NBA Finals within the 2001-2002 season, the place they misplaced to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nets returned to the finals in 2002-3 however once more misplaced, this time to the San Antonio Spurs. Kidd finally was traded to the Dallas Mavericks, the place he spent 5 seasons and received his solely NBA Championship. In 2012 Kidd signed with the New York Knicks. He led that crew to its first 50-win season since 1999-2000, however the 39-year-old Kidd was worn down by the point the playoffs started and the crew was bounced out of the playoffs by Indiana, after which Kidd retired.
Rangers Mark Messier celebrates with the Stanley Cup after the Rangers defeated Vancouver 3-2 in recreation 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Madison Sq. Backyard June 14, 1994.
Messier, one of many best gamers in NHL historical past, made his identify as a part of the duo with Wayne Gretzky that received 5 NHL Stanley Cups for the Edmonton Oilers. The fee-cutting Oilers finally traded him to the perennial bridesmaid New York Rangers, who at all times discovered a approach to not win a Cup amid derisive “1940” chants from New York Islander and New Jersey Devils followers. Messier mainly willed the Rangers to the Cup within the thrilling 1993-94 playoffs, most notably promising “We’ll Win Tonight” on the entrance web page of the New York Publish when the Rangers confronted elimination in opposition to the New Jersey Devils after which backing it up with a hat trick. He adopted that up by scoring the profitable purpose in Recreation 7 to defeat Vancouver for the Cup. Messier had a pair extra excellent seasons earlier than leaving for Vancouver when the Rangers GM, Neil Smith, determined to not re-sign him. Messier’s time in Vancouver was unsuccessful, and new Rangers GM Glen Sather, who had coached Messier in Edmonton, introduced him again for the 2000-2001 season. Messier performed properly that yr however declined over the subsequent three years and finally retired.
Alexei Kovalev, one other member of that Rangers Stanley Cup crew, adopted an identical path, being traded from the Rangers to Pittsburgh in 1998 after which returning for a second stint in 2002-2004.
What does this all imply for OBJ?
We don’t know but whether or not Beckham is even going to make the Giants’ ultimate 53-man roster. He should have proven them sufficient within the mass audition that led to a few huge receiver signings final week to suppose he no less than has one thing left within the tank. How shut the gauge is to “E” fairly than “F” at age 33 is not possible to know proper now. It’s not unprecedented for huge receivers of their 30s to thrive within the NFL. Listed below are a few of the receiving leaders from the 2025 season:
Information courtesy of Professional Soccer Reference
