{
  "id": 12698341,
  "title": "Odell Beckham Jr Coincidentally Takes Newly-Vacated Vikings Jersey Number",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/odell-beckham-jr-coincidentally-takes-newly-vacated-vikings-jersey",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T19:47:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Newsweek",
    "slug": "newsweek",
    "url": "https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/odell-beckham-jr-coincidentally-takes-newly-vacated-vikings-jersey-number-12537833"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a peculiar turn of events, New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has been assigned the newly vacated Minnesota Vikings jersey number 9. Both teams recently acquired players from each other, leading to this unusual coincidence.\n\nThe Giants acquired Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who replaced Jaxson Dart, who was out for the season due to injury. Shortly after, the Giants released Beckham, who had only made one catch in his first three games with the team.\n\nMeanwhile, the Vikings signed Beckham to their practice squad. Traditionally, Beckham has worn the number 13 on his jersey, but the Vikings already had that number taken by receiver Tai Felton. With McCarthy wearing number 18, Beckham now dons the vacated number 9 on the Vikings. This marks the first time in Beckham's career that he has worn the No. 9 jersey.\n\nInterestingly, if McCarthy had been given jersey number 13 with the Giants, it would have been a jersey swap of sorts. The Giants also reassigned Beckham's number 13 to backup quarterback Jake Haener, who now wears it alongside starting quarterback Jameis Winston and backup McCarthy, who now wears number 18.",
  "summary": "The Vikings signed Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad on Wednesday, one week after he was released by the Giants.",
  "key_points": [
    "New York Giants assign Odell Beckham Jr. to Vikings' vacated #9 jersey",
    "Beckham wore #13 with Giants, #9 with Vikings",
    "Coincidence due to recent player trades between teams"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}