10 best receiver-defensive back rivalries in NFL history

IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs a pass pattern against cornerback Deion Sanders #21 of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on November 12, 1995. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 38-20. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images)
IRVING, TX - NOVEMBER 12: Wide receiver Jerry Rice #80 of the San Francisco 49ers runs a pass pattern against cornerback Deion Sanders #21 of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas on November 12, 1995. The 49ers defeated the Cowboys 38-20. (Photo by Joseph Patronite/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Josh Norman #24 of the Carolina Panthers grabs the face mask of Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants during the first half on December 20, 2015 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 20: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Josh Norman #24 of the Carolina Panthers grabs the face mask of Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants during the first half on December 20, 2015 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Panthers defeated the Giants 38-35. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

3. Josh Norman vs. Odell Beckham Jr.

On its face, the rivalry between Josh Norman and Odell Beckham Jr. may seem more heated than others, and in some ways, it ways. Their initial meeting on December 20, 2015, escalated from an aggressive back-and-forth press in coverage to facemask pulls and cleat grabs. Both players received personal foul penalties, endured league punishment and went their separate ways — until Norman joined Beckham’s division with Washington in 2016.

The two met on several more occasions, the most recent being in November 2021 when Beckham was with the Rams and Norman was with the 49ers. Six years later, the headline remained: Could infamous OBJ-Norman feud flare up in 49ers-Rams?

What was fascinating about this particular feud is that more than the players themselves, it was onlookers who sought to keep these two embroiled in a fight that both seemed to want to leave behind. Over the years, both would publicly declare their intention of leaving their feud in the past while managing to sneak in one last verbal jab.

Will Buikema of SB Nation’s Secret Base broke down the history and aftermath of this rivalry in 2018, noting that what was unique about the Beckham/Norman fight is how it was kept intact by media and fans. After their 2015 game, Norman did say he “pulled back the mask on who [Beckham] really is” while Beckham avoided commenting, but once Norman moved into the division, everyone inquired about potential animosity.

Through interviews and over Twitter, Norman and Beckham continued to criticize one another, with Norman painting Beckham as a privileged, overrated first-round pick and Beckham painting Norman as someone looking to leech off of his own success.

Today, Beckham is with the Ravens and Norman’s NFL career is open-ended, so this rivalry may have seen its last flare-ups on the football field. But for the rest of their respective careers, it’s likely that an interviewer will always bring up their fateful encounter and the rivalry that ensued.