Both Odell Beckham Jr. and Nike are claiming victory in their countering breach-of-contract lawsuits after an Oregon jury effectively ruled the legal battle to be a draw.
Beckham, 31, sued Nike for $20 million two years ago to claim that the apparel giant refused to pay what he believed was contractually owed to him.
Nike countersued, similarly claiming a breach of contract on his part, and on Thursday, the jury ruled that both sides were victorious defendants but defeated as plaintiffs in their respective lawsuits. No money is changing hands as a result of the lawsuits, although both sides have the right to appeal, according to the Portland Business Journal.
'I wanna take this moment to thank God first and foremost thank you Heavenly Father,' the Miami Dolphins receiver wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of his attorneys. '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!!!'
Similarly, Nike chalked this up as a victory as well.
Odell Beckham Jr. is claiming victory after receiving exactly $0 from his lawsuit against Nike
Beckham told his social media followers that 'justice was served' after the $0 ruling
Beckham was signed to Nike for a number of years and the brand made his own custom spikes
'With this verdict, all of Mr. Beckham's claims have been decided against him without any monetary award,' read a company statement. '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.'
Beckham's 2022 lawsuit claimed Nike was refusing to pay guaranteed royalties in an endorsement deal.
As explained by Sportico, the dispute began with Nike matching an offer by rival Adidas for Beckham's services in 2017. But he and Nike had different interpretations about the language in the contract, which could have been worth as much as eight years and more than $40 million.
It remains unclear how much money was actually paid to Beckham.
Nike's counter lawsuit accused Beckham of improperly customizing his apparel in a way that breached his agreement with the company. The apparel giant sought $1.15 million for a 'footwear violation' and another $862,000 for a 'gloves violation.'
Beckham is enjoying a busy off-season.
After a forgettable season in Baltimore, the former All-Pro signed a one-year, $3 million deal to join a Dolphins receiving corps that already includes Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.