Jams Pits Odell Beckham Jr. Against Jerry Rice
A Jams commercial titled "The Showdown" stages a catching contest between the two NFL receivers, with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as the prize.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
Jams released a commercial in which Odell Beckham Jr. and Jerry Rice compete in a catching contest, where the first player to drop a pass loses. Neither player drops a pass, and the commercial ends with no winner and no sandwich awarded.
Why it matters
The ad pairs two receivers whose careers have followed very different paths, with Beckham absent from the 2025 NFL season and recently released by the New York Giants. The commercial is modeled on the 1993 McDonald's ad featuring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird.
Jerry Rice's career totals include 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, and 197 receiving touchdowns. Beckham appeared in three regular-season games for the Giants in 2026 without recording a reception.
The players
Odell Beckham Jr.
A former first-round wide receiver known for spectacular one-handed catches, who was released by the New York Giants in September 2026 and later joined the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad.
Jerry Rice
Widely regarded as the greatest wide receiver in NFL history, whose career receiving records remain among the league's most prominent marks.
Jams
A peanut butter and jelly brand that produced the commercial pairing the two receivers in a catching contest.
The details
In the commercial, Rice challenges Beckham after learning the box contains Jams peanut butter and jelly. The contest escalates from one-handed catches off a JUGS machine to catches off stadium lights, scoreboards, expressways, and through windows, and neither player drops a pass.
Timeline
1993: McDonald's ad featuring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird aired, the model for the Jams commercial.
2014: Beckham made a one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys.
2025 season: Beckham did not play in the NFL.
September 2026: The New York Giants released Beckham.
November 6, 2026: Article published about the Jams commercial.
Season Trajectory
The commercial follows the format of the 1993 McDonald's ad featuring Michael Jordan and Larry Bird, which set the template for pairing two star athletes in a playful head-to-head. Beckham's unsettled 2026 situation, following his release by the Giants, frames the ad against his diminished role in the current NFL season.
The commercial shows Beckham and Rice making catches off stadium lights and scoreboards, but the contest ends without a winner or sandwich awarded. Fantasy managers tracking Beckham should note he recorded no receptions in three regular-season appearances in 2026.
The takeaway
The ad shows how brands can use the familiar format of athlete rivalries to re-engage audiences around a veteran receiver. Beckham's return to the spotlight through this commercial reflects the uncertainty surrounding his NFL future.
Further reading
For more on the league, see the latest Football coverage.
