Odell Beckham Jr. has spent his career making headlines for one-handed catches and roster moves. But the most defining role of his life has nothing to do with football.
The 33-year-old wide receiver, released by the Giants this week after a three-game stint, is a father first. His son, Zydn, was born just four days after Beckham won Super Bowl LVI with the Rams in February 2022. Since then, Beckham has navigated co-parenting with ex-girlfriend Lauren Wood, leaned on his mother’s athletic wisdom, and watched his younger brother become a reality TV star. This is the family behind the highlight reel.
Parents: Two LSU Athletes Who Passed Down the Gift
Beckham’s athletic DNA is not a mystery. His mother, Heather Van Norman, was an All-American track star at LSU who helped lead the Lady Tigers to five national championships and was training for the 1992 Olympic trials when she discovered she was pregnant with Odell. She competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona as part of the 4×100-meter relay team.
Even now, Van Norman coaches her son from afar. Beckham recalled her texting him after games with critiques that had nothing to do with his hands. “I remember her texting me after games. I had decent games, and she’s texting me – ‘Oh, your form looks great,’” he said at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. “It’s funny to hear coming from her. She’s a track coach. It’s not like, ‘That’s a nice catch.’ She’s talking about running form.”
His father, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back at LSU from 1989 to 1992 and later played professionally in the Canadian Football League. After his playing career, he became CEO of Odell Beckham Brands, a men’s grooming line. When Odell Jr. was drafted in 2014, his father called it a generational breakthrough. “It’s something that has never happened in my family,” he told The Marshall News Messenger. “The chain has been broken and I’m very ecstatic. This is what I wish for as a parent. Parents always want their kids to have more, go further and be better.”
Beckham’s parents split shortly after his birth, but both remained deeply involved in his life. His stepfather, Derek Mills, won an Olympic gold medal in 1996 as part of the 400-meter relay team.
Four Siblings Across a Blended Family
Beckham is the eldest of five children spread across his parents’ subsequent relationships.
Jasmyne Mills, his maternal half-sister, was born in 2002 to Van Norman and Derek Mills. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arizona State University in May 2024 with a degree in interior design and a minor in business.
Kordell Beckham, his paternal half-brother, was born just weeks after Jasmyne in 2002. Kordell has carved out his own spotlight as a model and cast member on Love Island USA season 6, where he paired with Serena Page. Odell has been publicly supportive, commenting “Love u twin !!” on Kordell’s runway photos.
Sonny Odell Beckham, born in 2014, is a frequent presence at his older brother’s games. In November 2023, he posted from the field after watching Odell score a touchdown. “So blessed to be here on the field today. Got to see bubba make that touchdown and be with him on his birthday. Truly blessed. Couldn’t ask for a better day.”
Summer Odalis Beckham, the youngest, was born in 2018.
Son Zydn: The “Biggest Blessing” of His Life
Beckham’s son, Zydn, arrived on February 17, 2022 — four days after his father hoisted the Lombardi Trophy with the Rams. Beckham had announced the pregnancy months earlier with a Christmas Day post: “My gift won’t be wrapped under a tree this year but I can’t wait to meet You.”
For Beckham, fatherhood was never an abstract goal. “For the longest time, I always knew I was going to be a father because the way that I love kids. They’re close to my heart,” he told People in 2022. “It was the biggest blessing of my life. I always knew that it would be, but it really hit different when I was actually holding him.”
Zydn has become a fixture on NFL sidelines. In August 2026, before Beckham’s first Giants game since 2018, the two shared a moment on the field during pregame warmups, with Zydn standing alongside his grandmother, Heather Van Norman, who wore Beckham’s old LSU jersey.
In February 2026, as Zydn turned four, Beckham commented on Wood’s birthday tribute with a simple, powerful message: “GODS CHILD! Most incredible litttle human I kno!!!”
Co-Parenting with Lauren Wood
Beckham dated model and fitness influencer Lauren Wood from 2019 until their split in September 2023. Since then, the two have committed to raising Zydn together.
Wood has spoken openly about how co-parenting transformed their relationship. “I think we do a really good job at it because Zydn is the happiest baby,” she said. In a 2024 interview with People, she revealed that their new dynamic has actually made their bond “stronger” in some ways.
Wood marked Zydn’s fourth birthday with a reflection that captured the gravity of their shared responsibility. “I look at you, turn 4 today, and I’m completely in awe at the boy you have become… And yet, realizing, you don’t belong to me. You are God’s child. And you are your own being,” she wrote. “It’s my biggest blessing to be the vessel that brought you here.”
The Family Legacy
Beckham’s football career may be at a crossroads after his release from the Giants, but his family story is one of continuity and connection. His siblings range from a reality TV star to elementary schoolers. His son is growing up surrounded by aunts, uncles, and grandparents who show up on game days. And his parents — two former LSU athletes who started their family in college — built the foundation for everything that followed.
As Beckham told People earlier this year, his focus now extends beyond the field. He wants Zydn to learn love, respect, and a solid moral compass, instilling the lessons his own father taught him. Whatever happens next in his NFL journey, that work continues.
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