Justin Jefferson is a young American football player who serves as a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. Even though he’s been playing football for only a few years, he has gained significant popularity.
His catching and running skills are very good. Justin is only 24 years old, but he’s already one of the best players in the NFL. He’s liked by many fans worldwide because of his amazing skills and hard work.
Justin Jefferson Quick Facts
Name | Justin Jefferson |
---|---|
Age | 24 (born June 16, 1999) |
Birth Place | St. Rose, LA, USA |
Parents | John and Elaine Jefferson |
Sibling | Jordan and Ricky Jefferson |
Height | 6’1″ |
Weight | 195 lbs |
Profession | Professional American Football Player (NFL) |
Team | Minnesota Vikings |
Position | Wide Receiver |
College | Louisiana State University (LSU) |
Drafted | 1st round, 22nd overall in 2020 NFL Draft |
Justin Jefferson Early Life
Justin Jefferson comes from St. Rose, Louisiana, born on January 16, 1999. He attended Destrehan High School, where he began his football journey. Football runs in his family too. Even though he wasn’t considered the top player initially, his path took a different turn when he entered Louisiana State University (LSU) for his college education.
Justin Jefferson College Career
After completing high school, Justin chose to go to LSU, a local college. He only played in two games in his first year there and didn’t catch any passes. But in his second year, as a sophomore, he became the best receiver on the LSU Tigers team. He caught the ball 54 times, ran for 875 yards, and scored six touchdowns.
His third year at LSU was his best. He caught the ball more than anyone else in the country, 111 times. He also scored 18 touchdowns, which was the second-highest in the country. He got a lot of yards, too, 1,540 of them, which was the third-highest in the country. In a big game called the National Championship against Clemson, he caught nine passes for 106 yards and helped his team win.
In 2018, he was LSU’s best player in catching football. He improved greatly, from a not-so-famous player in high school to breaking records for catching and yards in college. He was so good that he decided to skip his last year in college and join the NFL Draft.
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Justin Jefferson Contract
In 2020, following his selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the draft, Justin Jefferson signed a four-year deal worth $13.12 million, which included a $7.1 million signing bonus.
Justin Jefferson Draft
During the 2020 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings chose Justin Jefferson as the 22nd pick in the first round, starting his journey in professional football. He was among the standout receivers in the draft, like CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs III. Most experts expected Jefferson to be picked in the first round.
Justin Jefferson NFL Career
- NFL Debut (Week 1 against Green Bay Packers)
- Started with two receptions for 26 yards.
- Breakthrough Performance (Week 3 against Tennessee Titans)
- Notable game with 175 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.
- The Vikings lost narrowly, 30–31.
- Consistent Success (Following Weeks)
- Week 4 against Houston Texans: Four receptions for 103 yards in a 31–23 victory.
- Became the fifth rookie wide receiver in Vikings history with back-to-back 100+ yard games.
- Week 6 against Atlanta Falcons: Secured nine receptions for 166 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
- Continued Success (Second and Third Seasons)
- 2021 Season
- Consistently achieved over 100 receiving yards in multiple games.
- Standout performances against teams like Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers.
- Earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
- 2022 Season
- Started with nine receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers.
- Surpassed Randy Moss for the franchise record of most receptions in the first three years of a career.
- Named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.
- 2021 Season
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Justin Jefferson Career Stats
Season | Games | Receptions | Yards | Touchdowns |
---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 16 | 88 | 1,400 | 7 |
2021 | 17 | 108 | 1,616 | 10 |
2022 | 17 | 128 | 1,809 | 10 |
Total | 50 | 324 | 4,825 | 27 |
Justin Jefferson Career Acheivements
Justin Jefferson is an amazing receiver in NFL history, and he will keep breaking records and making incredible catches in the future.
Awards
- NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2020)
- Pro Bowl selection (2020, 2021, 2022)
- First-team All-Pro selection (2020, 2021, 2022)
- Biletnikoff Award (2020)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2022)
Records
- Most receiving yards by a rookie (1,400 yards)
- Most receiving yards in a season by a player under the age of 23 (1,809 yards)
- He was the only player in NFL history to have 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.
- The youngest player in NFL history to be named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Justin Jefferson Personel Life
Parents
Justin Jefferson’s father, John Jefferson, was a former college basketball player and played professionally in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA). His mother, Elaine Jefferson, is a dedicated stay-at-home mom who has supported Justin throughout his journey.
Siblings
Justin Jefferson has two brothers, Jordan and Rickey. Jordan Jefferson played college football as a quarterback and later had a stint in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Rickey Jefferson initially played as a wide receiver, Then transitioned to a safety position in college at LSU.
Girlfriend
Justin Jefferson has been in a relationship with Tianna Harris since 2020. Tianna is a 22-year-old Instagram model and soccer player. Their relationship has been going strong, and they have been seen together on multiple occasions.
Justin Jefferson’s Amazing One-Handed Catches
Justin Jefferson is renowned for his extraordinary one-handed catches in football. Let’s take a look at some impressive instances:
- Firstly, during a 2020 match against the Green Bay Packers, Jefferson astounded everyone by snatching the ball with a single hand while leaping over cornerback Jaire Alexander, resulting in a remarkable gain of 44 yards.
- Furthermore, in a 2021 game against the Detroit Lions, Jefferson showcased his exceptional skills again as he effortlessly made a one-handed catch for a touchdown in the end zone.
- Lastly, in a 2022 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Jefferson’s incredible prowess was on display once more, as he managed to catch a pass with just one hand and covered an impressive 48 yards.
Justin Jefferson Controversies
Since joining the NFL in 2020, Justin Jefferson has been surrounded by some controversies, including:
- In 2020, Jefferson commented that some fans didn’t like his quarterback, Kirk Cousins. He said Cousins wasn’t the strongest-armed quarterback he’d played with, but still a good one.
- In 2021, Jefferson got into trouble on social media. He liked a tweet that criticized his team’s offensive line. Later, he said sorry and didn’t mean to upset anyone.
- In 2022, there was a problem. Jefferson was accused of hitting a referee with his helmet after a game. Frustratedly, he said it was accidental while trying to remove his helmet.
Justin Jefferson’s Griddy Dance
One of Justin Jefferson’s famous moves is the Griddy dance, a joyful celebration he uses on the football field. Allen Davis, a friend of former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, created the Griddy dance. It became popular, with videos of people doing the dance spreading everywhere.
When Chase was in college, he taught the dance to his teammate Justin Jefferson. They both shared it with the rest of their team at LSU. Jefferson then took the dance to a bigger stage during a game against Texas in 2019. After making 163 yards and scoring three touchdowns, he showcased the Griddy dance, making it even more famous.
Justin Jefferson’s Jersey Number
Justin Jefferson proudly wears jersey number 18 as an official member of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL. However, while playing college football at LSU, he sported the number 10 jersey.
Justin Jefferson Charity Work
- Justin Jefferson is strongly dedicated to supporting his Minnesota community through charity work.
- His JJets Foundation had a positive impact by giving out Thanksgiving turkeys in 2021, especially during tough times like the pandemic.
- He partners with the Minnesota Vikings Foundation and contributes to causes benefiting the Twin Cities.
- His involvement helps raise money for important programs focused on education, youth growth, and community well-being.
- Justin also cares deeply about the Boys & Girls Club of America, a national nonprofit helping young people succeed in school, health, and character.
- Through donations and volunteering, Justin plays a big role in assisting the Boys & Girls Club’s efforts to empower and mentor youth.