The Odell Beckham Jr. family is packed with athletes. His dad, Odell Beckham Sr., played running back at LSU, and his mom, Heather Van Norman, was an LSU sprinter who won NCAA titles and later became a college track coach. Odell also has a brother on reality TV and a young son of his own.
So that famous speed didn’t come out of nowhere. Below, you’ll meet his parents, his siblings, and his son, and see how growing up around elite athletes shaped one of the NFL’s flashiest receivers.
The Odell Beckham Jr. Family at a Glance
| Family member | Relation | Known for |
|---|---|---|
| Odell Beckham Sr. | Father | LSU running back (1989–1992), beard-care business |
| Heather Van Norman | Mother | LSU sprinter, six-time All-American, college track coach |
| Derek Mills | Mom’s partner | 1996 Olympic gold medalist in the 4×400-meter relay |
| Kordell Beckham | Younger brother | Winner of Love Island USA season 6 (2024) |
| Jasmyne Mills | Half-sister | Daughter of Heather Van Norman and Derek Mills |
| Zydn Beckham | Son | Born February 17, 2022 |
Odell Beckham Sr.: The LSU Running Back
Odell’s father played high school football in Marshall, Texas, then ran the ball for LSU from 1989 to 1992. He never became an NFL star, but he gave his son an early, close-up look at big-time college football.
He also has a fun side hustle. According to People, he started a beard-care company, Odell Beckham Brands, after a 2016 beard-growing contest with his son. (Yes, the competition was real, and yes, it turned into a business.)
His bigger influence was probably simpler, though. He knew what LSU’s football program demanded, and Odell later followed him there.
Heather Van Norman: The Family’s Real Track Star
If you’re asking where Odell got his speed, look at his mom. Heather Van Norman ran sprints at LSU and earned six All-American honors. She won NCAA outdoor titles three years in a row, from 1991 to 1993, plus indoor titles in 1991 and 1993, according to The Advocate.
Her timing is part of the family story. People reports, citing CBS Sports, that she was training for the 1992 Olympic trials when she learned she was pregnant with Odell. He was born on November 5, 1992, in Baton Rouge.
A long coaching career
After her running days, she moved into coaching. She started at Rice, became Tulane’s head coach in 2002, and took over track and field at Nicholls State in 2012. So Odell grew up around practice schedules, stopwatches, and coaches who cared about every tenth of a second.
Her partner, Derek Mills, adds even more speed to the family tree. He won Olympic gold in 1996 as part of the U.S. 4×400-meter relay team.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s Siblings
Kordell Beckham
His younger brother, Kordell, found fame away from football. He won season 6 of Love Island USA in 2024, which put a second Beckham name in the headlines.
Jasmyne Mills
Odell’s half-sister, Jasmyne, is the daughter of Heather Van Norman and Derek Mills. With two athletes as parents, she has one of the fastest gene pools around.
Younger siblings on his dad’s side
Odell Sr. also has younger children, including a little sister Odell often gets asked about online. She’s a young child, though, and the family hasn’t made her a public figure. That’s why we’re not sharing details about her here. Kids deserve privacy, even when a big brother is famous.
Odell as a Dad: Meet His Son, Zydn
Odell became a father on February 17, 2022, when his son Zydn was born to him and then-partner Lauren Wood. The timing was wild. Zydn arrived just days after Odell won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams.
That makes three generations of Beckhams tied to big sports moments. Whether Zydn ends up on a field or a track is anyone’s guess, but he’ll have plenty of coaches at home.
How His Family Shaped His Football Career
With parents like his, Odell had a head start. He played at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, then followed his dad to LSU from 2011 to 2013. The New York Giants drafted him 12th overall in 2014.
That rookie year made him famous. In Week 12, on Sunday Night Football against Dallas, he made a one-handed touchdown catch while falling backward. Plenty of players and analysts have called it one of the best catches ever. He went on to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and made three straight Pro Bowls.
His career since then has had big highs and real setbacks:
- Teams: Giants, Browns, Rams, Ravens, Dolphins, a return to the Giants in 2026, and now the Vikings.
- Career numbers: 7,987 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in 122 regular-season games.
- Setbacks: A six-game suspension in 2025 under the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy.
- Latest move: After a short Giants stint, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on October 7, 2026, at age 33, per MPR News.
Curious how athletes like him train for that kind of speed? Our guide on practical ways to improve sports performance covers the basics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Odell Beckham Jr.’s parents?
His parents are Odell Beckham Sr. and Heather Van Norman. Both were LSU athletes. His dad played running back for the Tigers from 1989 to 1992, while his mom was a six-time All-American sprinter who won several NCAA titles and later coached track at Rice, Tulane, and Nicholls State.
How many siblings does Odell Beckham Jr. have?
Odell has several siblings. His younger brother Kordell won Love Island USA in 2024, and his half-sister Jasmyne is the daughter of his mom and Olympian Derek Mills. His father also has younger children, including a little sister, whom the family keeps mostly out of the public eye.
Does Odell Beckham Jr. have a kid?
Yes. Odell has a son, Zydn, born on February 17, 2022, with his then-partner Lauren Wood. Zydn was born just days after Odell won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams, which made February 2022 one of the biggest months of his life.
Was Odell Beckham Jr.’s mom an Olympian?
Not quite. Heather Van Norman was training for the 1992 Olympic trials when she found out she was pregnant with Odell, according to People. She still had a standout college career at LSU, earning six All-American honors and multiple NCAA titles before becoming a college coach.
What team is Odell Beckham Jr. on now?
As of October 2026, Odell is on the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. He signed on October 7, 2026, after the New York Giants released him following a brief return. The Vikings are his sixth NFL team, after the Giants, Browns, Rams, Ravens, and Dolphins.
A Family Built on Speed and Sports
The Odell Beckham Jr. family story explains a lot about the player. A running-back dad, a title-winning sprinter mom, and an Olympic gold medalist in the extended family gave him both talent and a front-row seat to elite training.
Now he’s a dad himself, still chasing another NFL chapter in Minnesota. If you want to follow what’s next, keep an eye on the Vikings’ weekly roster moves, since practice squad players can be called up quickly.
Featured image: Photo by Nathan Shively on Unsplash. In-article image: Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.
