Ravens HC compares OBJ addition to Eagles, Terrell Owens

Baltimore Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr. Reggie Hildred-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens HC compares addition of OBJ to that of Terrell Owens joining Eagles

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 6/14/23

Although he hasn’t played since February 2022, Odell Beckham Jr.’s arrival at Ravens minicamp gave off Terrell Owens-like vibes, according to head coach John Harbaugh.

A special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004 when that franchise acquired Owens from the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh saw firsthand the kind of excitement a high-profile receiver can generate during spring practice — much like the hype that surrounded Beckham Jr. during Tuesday’s minicamp.

"We had [Owens] in Philadelphia; he came in -- all the hype and all the things from a personality standpoint -- [and] nobody worked harder at practice, nobody worked harder in the weight room," Harbaugh told reporters. "…Those kinds of guys reach that level for a reason and [Beckham Jr.] is in a place in his career where I feel like he has a lot to prove, at this point and I think he feels like he's going to be the healthiest he's been in a few years.”

The start of something special❗️@obj pic.twitter.com/B1coW0PtDg
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 13, 2023

Much like Owens did when he arrived in Philly, Beckham Jr. has the skins on the wall. A three-time Pro Bowler and two-time second-team All-Pro, Beckham Jr. logged five 1,000-yard seasons in his first eight years in the NFL, topping the 70-reception mark five times and recording double-digit touchdowns three times.

The 30-year-old wideout was brought to Baltimore to add an element the Ravens' passing game had been lacking — a true game-breaking, big-play threat. And so far, Beckham Jr. is saying and doing all the right things. Harbaugh raved about Beckham Jr.’s reputation as a player who holds himself accountable, suggesting he is the kind of player who could ignite a fire in the rest of the Ravens WR room.

"I love the guy; he's a pro,” Harbaugh said. “He's what you would expect from a world-class athlete. He's a highly competitive guy. He wants to play at the highest level, on only the highest level.”

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