Both Odell Beckham Jr. and Nike are claiming victory in their respective breach-of-contract lawsuits after an Oregon jury effectively ruled the legal battle to be a draw.
Beckham, 31, initiated the legal confrontation by suing Nike for $20 million two years ago, alleging that the apparel giant failed to pay him the royalties he believed he was contractually owed. Nike countered with its own breach-of-contract claim against Beckham, accusing him of violating the terms of their endorsement agreement.
On Thursday, the jury delivered a mixed verdict: both Beckham and Nike were deemed victorious as defendants but unsuccessful as plaintiffs in their respective lawsuits. As a result, no financial compensation will be exchanged between the two parties. Both sides retain the right to appeal the decision, according to the Portland Business Journal.
Following the verdict, Beckham expressed his gratitude and relief on Instagram, posting a photo with his legal team and writing, “I wanna take this moment to thank God first and foremost thank you Heavenly Father. I wanna thank my team for every hour they have spent preparing on this case. I wanna thank the jury for simply doing what’s right in a world full of wrong… my message to whoever needs this is, STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN! JUSTICE WAS SERVED!!!”
Nike also framed the outcome as a victory. In a statement, the company said, “With this verdict, all of Mr. Beckham’s claims have been decided against him without any monetary award. The decision confirmed that Nike complied with its commitments. Nike is grateful to the jury and the Court for their careful attention to this case.”
The legal dispute originated from a 2022 lawsuit filed by Beckham, who claimed that Nike was withholding guaranteed royalties from an endorsement deal. The conflict began when Nike matched a lucrative offer from Adidas for Beckham’s endorsement services in 2017. However, disagreements over contract language and interpretations led to the protracted legal battle, with the potential contract value speculated to be as high as $40 million over eight years.
Nike’s counter lawsuit accused Beckham of customizing his apparel in ways that breached their agreement. The company sought $1.15 million for a “footwear violation” and an additional $862,000 for a “gloves violation.”
Amidst his off-field legal battles, Beckham is gearing up for a new chapter in his NFL career. After a lackluster season in Baltimore, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Miami Dolphins, joining a formidable receiving corps that includes Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
As Beckham navigates his busy off-season, both his professional and personal endeavors continue to capture public attention.
