Justin Jefferson
Justin Jefferson is a professional American football wide receiver who has gained recognition as a premier player in the National Football League (NFL) since his debut in 2020. Drafted by the Minnesota Vikings, he quickly set multiple rookie records, finishing his inaugural season with 1,400 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, which earned him a spot on the NFL All-Rookie team and a Pro Bowl invitation. Jefferson's early life in St. Rose, Louisiana, was marked by a strong football influence, coming from a family of players, including two older brothers who also played at Louisiana State University (LSU).
At LSU, Jefferson's career flourished, particularly during the 2019 season when he helped lead the Tigers to a national championship, tallying 1,540 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. His NFL career has been marked by consistent excellence, with subsequent seasons featuring even higher yardage and reception totals. His 2022 season was particularly notable, as he led the league with 128 receptions and 1,809 receiving yards, earning accolades such as the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award. As of the 2023 season, he achieved a significant milestone by surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth consecutive year and signed a historic contract extension with the Vikings worth $140 million. Jefferson has drawn comparisons to legendary players and continues to set records, solidifying his status as one of the best wide receivers in NFL history.
Justin Jefferson
- Born: June 16, 1999
- Place of Birth: St. Rose, Louisiana
Wide receiver Justin Jefferson quickly became a superstar after entering the National Football League (NFL) in 2020. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings that year and set many rookie records in his first season. He continued to establish himself as a top player over the following years, setting more NFL records and winning honors such as the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Award.
Early Life
Justin Jefferson was born on June 16, 1999, in St. Rose, Louisiana, to John and Elaine Jefferson. His two older brothers, Jordan and Rickey, were football players who starred at Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana, before playing at Louisiana State University (LSU). Both went on to brief professional playing careers.
Jefferson was a talented football player from a young age. When he was nine, he finished third in the Punt, Pass and Kick national championship. He followed his older brothers to Destrehan High School where he played both offense and defense, as well as special teams as a kick returner. As a wide receiver, he caught 44 passes for 9 touchdowns as a senior. His performance attracted some attention from college football recruiters, and he was ranked as the seventy-sixth best prospect from the state of Louisiana coming out of high school.
College Football
Like his brothers, Jefferson went to LSU and played for the Tigers football team. He struggled to get playing time as a freshman. However, he blossomed as a sophomore in 2018, hauling in 54 catches and 6 touchdowns. He starred in LSU’s Fiesta Bowl victory over the University of Central Florida with 87 receiving yards and two touchdown catches.
The 2019 season turned out to be one for the ages for Jefferson and LSU football. Led by quarterback Joe Burrow, the Tigers went 15–0 and won the College Football National Championship. Jefferson finished the season with 1,540 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns on a national-best 111 receptions. He caught nine passes for 108 yards in the Tigers’ 42–25 victory over Clemson University in the National Championship Game.
After the season ended, Jefferson declared his eligibility for the 2020 NFL Draft. He was considered one of the top wide receiver prospects in the draft and was expected to go somewhere in the middle of the first round. He lasted until pick twenty-two, when he was selected by the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL Career
Rookie wide receivers typically take time to develop into NFL stars, and Jefferson looked to be no different when he caught just five passes for 70 total yards in his first two NFL games. However, he exploded for 175 yards and his first NFL touchdown in Vikings’ third game and never looked back. He finished his debut season with a rookie-record 1,400 receiving yards, as well as 7 touchdowns, on 88 receptions. At season’s end he was named to the NFL All-Rookie team, was a second team All-Pro, and earned his first Pro Bowl invitation.
Jefferson built on those results in 2021. He finished the regular season with 108 receptions, 1,616 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns, again earning second-team All Pro and Pro Bowl selections. However, despite his strong efforts, the Vikings missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Jefferson’s 2022 season was even better as he continued to establish himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. During the regular season he led the NFL with 128 receptions, 1,809 receiving yards, and an average 106.4 receiving yards per game. He caught eight touchdowns and added another touchdown as a rusher. His standout performance earned him the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award, another Pro Bowl invite, and first-team All-Pro honors, as well as fifth place in voting for the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award. Jefferson's excellence also helped lead the Vikings to a 13–4 record, securing the NFC North title and a berth in the playoffs. However, they lost in the wild card round to the New York Giants.
In the 2023 season Jefferson missed seven games due to injury. He still played well when available, and managed to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fourth year in a row. Before the start of the 2024 season he signed a four-year contract extension with the Vikings worth $140 million. The deal set an NFL record for highest annual value for a non-quarterback player.
Impact
Justin Jefferson became a football superstar with record-setting performances in college and the NFL, earning wide recognition as one of the best receivers in the game. After just two full years of play at LSU, he sat at or near the top of the school's all-time leaderboards in numerous categories. He then took the NFL by storm as a rookie, quickly earning comparisons to former Viking and NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss and other all-time greats (while breaking many of Moss's franchise records). Jefferson’s 2022 season was ranked by many observers among the best by a wide receiver in NFL history. His 1,809 receiving yards were at the time sixth-most ever in a single season, while his 128 receptions were seventh most all-time. Both stats also set Vikings franchise records.
In each of his first four NFL seasons, Jefferson set the league record for most career receiving yardage for a player with that many years of experience. He also surpassed the record for most games with at least 100 receiving yards over a player’s first four seasons, breaking Moss's previous high of twenty-three.
Bibliography
Gillen, Garland. “Another Jefferson Stars for Destrehan Football.” Fox 8, 16 Sept. 2016, www.fox8live.com/story/33114450/another-jefferson-stars-for-destrehan-football/. Accessed 29 Apr. 2023.
“Justin Jefferson.” NFL, www.nfl.com/players/justin-jefferson/. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
“Justin Jefferson.” Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JeffJu00.htm. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.
“#2 Justin Jefferson.” Louisiana State University, lsusports.net/sports/fb/roster/player/justin-jefferson/. Accessed 7 May 2023.
Thiel, Sam. “Lunchbreak: Breaking Down Justin Jefferson’s Record-Setting Career Start.” Minnesota Vikings, 10 Feb. 2023, www.vikings.com/news/justin-jefferson-record-setting-career-start-2022. Accessed 7 May 2023.