Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. shared how his 17-month-old son, Zydn, brings purpose and joy to his life. He told PEOPLE Magazine, “My son makes me smile every single day. He’s just such a blessing. It’s a blessing to have a little boy and be able to see so much of myself in him. He makes me smile no matter what’s going on in my life. He’s brightened up my entire summer.”
The wide receiver continued, “And just being able to play football again, being out on the field running. It’s a very good feeling and a good time for me.” Beckham shared pictures on his Instagram that showed him and Zydn on the field. He wrote, “Told my son these the times that we’ll never get back again. Had to take a break, but now it’s time, and I’m back again. They won’t get to see my back again. Until I’m passing em. So now, only time I see my comp is when I’m lapping em.”
Beckham added, “Zydn and I haven’t gotten out too much because we’ve been in training camp. It’s been long, gritty days without a lot of free time. He’s at home waiting for me now.” Still, with the help of his parents, Beckham goes to work excited to see his son when he gets home. He shared, “Luckily, my mom and pops are in town. So, they’re with him during the day as I work, and then I get to spend my time with them. And as soon as I get home, he’ll come give me a hug or lay on me. Words don’t do justice for how great that feeling he gives me is.”
Beckham’s mother, Heather Van Norman, said, “Being a father has definitely settled him. Zydn is like his light. He’s always loved children. But being with Zydn brings out all the goodness in Odell. It’s really fun to watch.” However, fatherhood isn’t any different just because he’s an NFL dad. Beckham Jr. expressed, “Last night, he was waking up. He doesn’t always sleep through the night, and sometimes it can be tough. That’s probably the toughest thing about raising a toddler.”
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He continued, “But my favorite thing I’ve realized being a father are the moments that it’s just me and him, and I can actually be there and be present. He’s really made up of the best of me and his mother, and it’s such a beautiful thing. It’s such a blessing. I’m very grateful that I have my little man giving me so much life.” Beckham is excited to share football with his son this season.
“It’s crazy when he came to my training camp practice, I remembered being a rookie who watched everyone’s family coming out. And obviously, I didn’t have that kind of family, but I could see the joy people had as parents. It was just very beautiful to me,” Beckham recalled.
He concluded, “I’ve always been a kid person. I always knew that I was going to be a father, knew that’s part of my purpose. So, to be able to have him now, it’s everything. If I played last year, he would have been too young to really know what’s going on, but now he knows. He’s very smart, and I’m just so happy to be able to have him experience this with me. It’s one of my biggest motivations.”