Odell Beckham Jr., known as OBJ, is an American NFL wide receiver famous for his one-handed catches and his Super Bowl LVI win. Many people search for his ethnicity, and the honest answer has some gaps. This article lays out what reliable sources confirm about his family and background, what is only reported, and what nobody has verified.
Latest Update: September 30, 2026
As of September 30, 2026, Beckham does not have a team. The Giants released him on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, after he played about 19 snaps over three games, was targeted once and did not catch a pass. Another outlet counted 20 snaps, so the exact total depends on the source (NFL.com, Yahoo Sports/PFF).
Unless he is traded, he becomes a free agent again. His return to New York began in June 2026, and it ended while the offense was adjusting to a season-ending knee injury to quarterback Jaxson Dart. No new team has been reported in the sources checked for this article.
Who Is Odell Beckham Jr.?
His full name is Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. He was born on November 5, 1992, and most sources list Baton Rouge, Louisiana as his birthplace. He won the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year award and later won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams. His nationality is American.
Odell Beckham Jr. Ethnicity: What Is Verified
This is the part most readers came for. Here is where the evidence stands.
What is confirmed
He is American, and he was raised in Louisiana. Sportskeeda says both of his parents are U.S. citizens. The same outlet describes both parents as being of African descent. That article does not name a primary source for the claim, so treat it as reported, not officially confirmed.
What conflicts or is thin
A smaller website says his mother is of “mixed ethnicity.” It gives no source or details. Message boards also debate his ancestry, but forum posts are opinion, not evidence, and they are not used here.
What he has said himself
In a GQ interview, he said race plays a role in why he is seen as one of the most polarizing athletes in pro sports. That shows he talks about race in society. It does not give a percentage-by-percentage ancestry breakdown, and none of the sources checked contain one from him.
Bottom line: as of September 30, 2026, Beckham’s detailed ethnic background has not been publicly verified. Guessing from a name, a photo, or a parent’s job would be speculation, so this article does not do it.
Background / Early Life
His parents were both student-athletes at LSU. His mother, Heather Van Norman, was a national champion All-American track runner, and she was training for the Olympic trials when she learned she was pregnant with him. As a baby he went to class with her on campus, and he was raised by his mother (Britannica).
The Giants’ team bio calls him a native of New Orleans, which differs from the Baton Rouge birthplace in other sources. He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans and played receiver, quarterback, running back and cornerback. He also lettered in basketball for four years and was a track athlete.
Career Path
College and the Giants (2011–2018)
He enrolled at LSU in 2011 and majored in human fitness movement. He won the 2013 Hornung Award as college football’s most versatile player, and the Giants picked him 12th overall in 2014. In five seasons with New York he caught 390 passes for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. He made three Pro Bowls.
Browns, Rams, Ravens and Dolphins (2019–2024)
The Giants traded him to Cleveland before the 2019 season, and the Browns later dealt him to the Rams during 2021. He won a Super Bowl with the Rams but tore his ACL in that game. He sat out 2022 while recovering, then joined the Ravens in 2023. In Baltimore he caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. With Miami in 2024 he had nine catches for 55 yards, and the Dolphins released him in December.
Suspension and the 2026 comeback
In October 2025 he accepted a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy from a test taken in 2024. He said he never knowingly took a banned substance. The NFL reinstated him in November 2025. He signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract with the Giants on June 1, 2026. That deal ended with his release on September 29, 2026.
Odell Beckham Jr. Age
His date of birth is November 5, 1992. As of September 30, 2026, he is 33 years old. The math: 2026 minus 1992 is 34, but his birthday has not happened yet this year, so he turns 34 on November 5, 2026.
Odell Beckham Jr. Family and Parents
His father, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back at LSU from 1989 to 1992. His mother, Heather Van Norman, was an All-American runner at LSU from 1991 to 1993. His parents later separated, and his mother went on to marry Derreck Mills. Sources disagree on one detail. One profile calls his mother a 1992 Olympian, while Britannica says she was training for the Olympic trials when she found out she was pregnant. Her Olympic status is therefore not settled.
Wikipedia describes sprinter Derek Mills as his stepfather. Mills is listed as a 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 4×400 relay. The Giants list four siblings: Jasmyne, Kordell, Sonny and Summer.
Odell Beckham Jr. Wife / Partner
Confirmed: he was in a public relationship with Lauren Wood from 2019 to 2023. Neither of them announced the breakup, and TMZ reported in September 2023 that it happened at the start of that year. In a June 2, 2026 podcast interview, Wood said the two are now “just family” and focus on their son.
Not confirmed: I found no report from a major outlet that he has ever married. One outlet mentioned that he was linked to Kim Kardashian in September 2023, but no confirmed relationship was found. His current relationship status is not publicly known.
Odell Beckham Jr. Children
He has one child, a son named Zydn. Zydn was born on February 17, 2022, days after the Rams won the Super Bowl.
Odell Beckham Jr. Education
He attended Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, then LSU. His listed major was human fitness movement. He was drafted after his junior season. Whether he finished a degree is not confirmed in the sources checked.
Odell Beckham Jr. Religion
He speaks openly about his faith in God. After the 2021 season he said none of his comeback would have been possible without God. In 2018 he was baptized in the Jordan River. The sources checked do not name a specific denomination, so none is listed here.
Odell Beckham Jr. Height
His listed height is 5 feet 11 inches, and his listed weight is 198 pounds. The Giants recorded the same figures at his pre-draft measurements. Listed sizes come from teams and databases, not personal disclosure.
Odell Beckham Jr. Net Worth
His exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Here are the pieces with their labels:
Contract figures (reported): In 2018 the Giants gave him a five-year extension reported as worth up to $95 million, with $65 million reported as guaranteed. His 2026 deal was worth $1.3 million with no guarantees.
Third-party estimate: One site puts his net worth at $40 million and his career contract earnings at $97.6 million. Another site also estimates $40 million. These are outside estimates, not disclosed financial records.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s Business / Work / Major Achievements
His biggest achievements are the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year award, three Pro Bowls, and a Super Bowl LVI title. Through 10 seasons he had 575 receptions, 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns. He also became known for the one-handed touchdown catch against Dallas in 2014. His business ventures were not verified for this article.
Quick Table
| Full Name | Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr. |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | November 5, 1992 |
| Age | 33 (as of September 30, 2026) |
| Birthplace | Baton Rouge, Louisiana (per most sources) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Not officially verified; one outlet reports both parents are of African descent |
| Occupation | NFL wide receiver |
| Known For | Giants stardom, one-handed catch, Super Bowl LVI win |
| Education | Isidore Newman School; LSU |
| Spouse/Partner | Not married per available reports; ex-partner Lauren Wood |
| Children | One son, Zydn (born February 17, 2022) |
| Parents | Odell Beckham Sr. and Heather Van Norman |
| Net Worth | Not verified; third-party estimates around $40 million |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (listed) |
| Religion | Speaks of faith in God; denomination not stated |
| Current Status | Released by the Giants on September 29, 2026; no new team reported |
Reader Questions
What is Odell Beckham Jr.’s ethnicity?
Odell Beckham Jr. is American, and his detailed ancestry has not been publicly verified. One sports outlet describes both of his parents as being of African descent, but it does not cite a primary source.
Who are Odell Beckham Jr.’s parents?
His parents are Odell Beckham Sr. and Heather Van Norman, who both attended LSU as athletes. His father played running back, and his mother was an All-American track runner.
How old is Odell Beckham Jr.?
He is 33 years old as of September 30, 2026. He was born on November 5, 1992, and turns 34 on November 5, 2026.
What is Odell Beckham Jr. famous for?
He is known for his record-setting rookie season with the Giants, his one-handed touchdown catch in 2014, and his Super Bowl LVI win with the Rams. He was also the 2014 Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Is Odell Beckham Jr. married?
No marriage has been reported by the major outlets checked. He dated Lauren Wood from 2019 to 2023, and they share a son.
Does Odell Beckham Jr. have children?
Yes, he has one son, Zydn, born February 17, 2022. His mother is Lauren Wood.
What is Odell Beckham Jr.’s net worth?
His exact net worth has not been publicly verified. Third-party sites estimate about $40 million, which is an estimate and not a disclosed figure.
Is Odell Beckham Jr. still on the Giants?
No. The Giants released him on September 29, 2026, and no new team has been reported as of September 30, 2026.
Wrap-Up
The ethnicity question shows how much of a public figure’s background rests on secondary reports. Beckham’s birth date, parents, schools and career are well documented. His detailed ancestry is not, and the only specific claims found come from a sports website without a named primary source and a smaller site with no source at all. Until he or his family says more, the careful answer is that it is unverified.
His football story keeps changing too. He went from a first-round pick and Rookie of the Year to a Super Bowl champion, then through injuries, a 2025 suspension and a short 2026 return to the Giants. His 2026 contract was worth $1.3 million, a small figure next to the deal he signed in 2018.
As of September 30, 2026, Beckham is 33, a free agent after his release on September 29, and the father of one son. No new team has been announced.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available information as of September 30, 2026. Estimates, reports and unverified personal details are labeled as such, and no private information was assumed or inferred.
