Justin Jefferson
Born 1999 · Age 26
American professional football wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings; starred at LSU (CFP national champion 2020), drafted in 2020, multi-time Pro Bowler, 2022 AP Offensive Player of the Year, record-setting receiver through his first five NFL seasons.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in St. Rose, Louisiana
Justin Jamal Jefferson was born to John and Elaine Jefferson in St. Rose, Louisiana.
Qualifies for Punt, Pass & Kick national championship
At age 9 he qualified for the national Punt, Pass and Kick championship and placed third.
High school senior season at Destrehan HS
As a Destrehan High School senior he recorded 44 receptions for 956 yards and 9 TDs; excelled in track and as a kick returner.
Enrolled at LSU / Freshman season
Joined LSU Tigers football program; appeared in two games as a freshman and did not record a catch.
Two 100+ yard games (2018)
Recorded 108 yards vs Georgia and 117 vs Arkansas during the 2018 season.
Became LSU's leading receiver (Sophomore season)
Led LSU with 54 receptions for 875 yards and 6 receiving TDs in 2018.
First collegiate touchdown vs. Ole Miss (65 yds)
Scored his first collegiate TD on a 65-yard reception from Joe Burrow vs. Ole Miss.
Junior season breakout at LSU
Started all 15 games; led the country with 111 receptions, totaled 1,540 receiving yards and 18 TDs; second-team All-SEC.
Huge game vs. Texas (9 rec, 163 yds, 3 TDs)
In LSU's early-season game at Texas he caught nine passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns.
10 catches vs. Florida (123 yds, 1 TD)
Recorded 10 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in LSU's win over Florida.
Peach Bowl (CFP semifinal) historic game vs. Oklahoma
Caught 14 passes for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns in the CFP semifinal; set CFP game records and tied bowl-game TD record.
SEC Championship performance vs Georgia
Had seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in LSU's 37–10 SEC Championship win over Georgia.
Set multiple Vikings rookie franchise records
Set Vikings rookie records for receptions (88), receiving yards (1,400) and 100-yard games (7) during 2020.
NFL Combine / Pre-draft measurables recorded
Listed Combine measurables: 6'1.25", 202 lb, 40-yard dash 4.43s, vertical 37.5", broad jump 10'6", hand span 9-1/8"; Wonderlic 19.
Philanthropy — donated 10,000 masks during COVID-19
Donated 10,000 masks to Children's Minnesota-St. Paul Hospital during the pandemic.
Accolade: AP Second-Team All-Pro (rookie season)
Named AP Second-Team All-Pro for the 2020 season — notable for a rookie.
CFP National Championship victory vs. Clemson
Helped LSU win the national title with nine catches for 106 yards in the 42–25 victory.
Declared for 2020 NFL Draft
Announced he would forgo his senior season and enter the 2020 NFL Draft.
Selected 22nd overall in 2020 NFL Draft by Vikings
Taken in round 1 with the 22nd overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings (pick previously acquired in Diggs trade).
Signed rookie contract with Minnesota Vikings
Agreed to a 4-year, $13.12 million rookie deal including a $7.1M signing bonus.
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list
Vikings placed Jefferson on the reserve/COVID-19 list during 2020 training camp.
Activated off COVID-19 list
Cleared and activated by the Vikings about a week after being placed on the list.
NFL debut vs. Green Bay Packers (Week 1)
Recorded two receptions for 26 yards in his NFL debut.
First big breakout — 175 yards vs. Tennessee (Week 3)
In his first start he had 7 receptions for 175 yards and his first NFL TD.
Back-to-back 100-yard games (Week 4)
Caught 4 passes for 103 yards vs. Houston, becoming one of few Vikings rookies with back-to-back 100-yard games.
166 yards and 2 TDs vs. Atlanta (Week 6)
Had nine receptions for 166 yards and two touchdowns; earned Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors.
Surpassed 1,000 receiving yards (Week 13)
Recorded nine catches for 121 yards & a TD vs. Jacksonville and passed 1,000 receiving yards on the season.
Broke Randy Moss' Vikings rookie receptions record (Week 15)
Recorded his 74th reception of the season, breaking Randy Moss' Vikings rookie record.
Named to 2021 Pro Bowl / All-Rookie / PFF Offensive Rookie of the Year
Selected to the Pro Bowl (one of two rookies), NFL All-Rookie team, and named Sporting News/Rosters and PFF Rookie honors.
Ranked No. 53 on NFL Top 100 Players of 2021
Voted by fellow players as the 53rd best player entering the 2021 season.
Philanthropy — donated 100 backpacks (back-to-school)
Donated 100 backpacks at a back-to-school event.
Set Super Bowl-era rookie receiving yards record (season end)
Finished rookie season with 1,400 receiving yards, a Super Bowl-era rookie record at the time.
First NFL player to get a Fortnite reference (Griddy dance)
On April 27, 2021 Justin Jefferson became the first NFL player referenced in Fortnite with the 'Griddy' dance.
NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 11)
Earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week after 8 catches for 169 yards & 2 TDs vs. Green Bay (Nov 24).
Broke record for most receiving yards in first two NFL seasons
Surpassed Odell Beckham Jr.'s mark to become the leader in receiving yards through two NFL seasons.
NFC Offensive Player of the Month (November 2021)
Named NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November 2021 (464 yards & 3 TDs in November).
Accolade: AP First-Team All-Pro (2022)
Named to the AP First-Team All-Pro after his 2022 Offensive Player of the Year season.
Week 1: 184 yards and 2 TDs vs. Packers
Opened 2022 season with a 9-catch, 184-yard, 2-TD performance in a 23–7 win over Green Bay.
Week 4: 147 yards & a rushing TD in London vs. Saints
Produced 147 receiving yards and a rushing touchdown in Vikings' win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Career-high 12 catches (154 yards) vs Bears
Caught a career-high 12 passes for 154 yards; passed Randy Moss for franchise receptions in first three seasons.
NFC Offensive Player of the Month (November 2022)
Recognized as NFC Offensive Player of the Month for November 2022.
Passed Randy Moss for most receiving yards in first three seasons
Surpassed Moss' mark for receiving yards across first three NFL seasons (record cited mid-November 2022).
Iconic 4th-and-18 one-handed catch vs. Bills (Week 10)
Made a celebrated one-handed 32-yard catch on 4th-and-18 late in OT win vs. Buffalo; play later named NFL Play of the Year and his gloves/sleeves placed in the Hall of Fame.
Vikings single-game receiving yards record (223) vs. Lions (Week 14)
Recorded 11 receptions for 223 yards, setting the Vikings single-game receiving yards record.
Finished 2023 with over 1,000 receiving yards despite missing 7 games
Recorded 1,074 receiving yards in 10 games (2023 season) and set NFL record for most receiving yards through first four seasons.
Finished 2022 regular season leading NFL in receptions & receiving yards
Led NFL with 128 receptions and 1,809 receiving yards for the 2022 regular season.
Named AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2022 season)
Won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award for his 2022 season performance.
Philanthropy — donated 30 laptops via Northside Achievement Zone
Partnered with Northside Achievement Zone and donated 30 laptops (April 2023).
Vikings pick up fifth-year option on rookie contract
Minnesota exercised the fifth-year option on Jefferson's rookie contract on April 25, 2023.
Strong 2023 season start — 150 yards Week 1 vs Buccaneers
Opened 2023 with 9 receptions for 150 yards despite team loss vs Tampa Bay.
Placed on injured reserve (hamstring)
Vikings placed Jefferson on IR Oct 11 due to a hamstring injury suffered in Week 5.
Activated off injured reserve
Returned from IR and was activated by the Vikings on November 28, 2023.
Returned vs. Las Vegas then left with chest injury (Week 14)
Caught 2 passes for 27 yards before exiting with a chest injury.
Fastest to 400 receptions and 30 career 100-yard games (team/NFL milestones)
Reached 400 receptions in 62 games (fastest in team history), tied Lance Alworth for fastest to 6,000 yards (62 games), and became fastest to 30 career 100-yard games (62 games).
Finished 2024 season with 103 receptions, 1,533 yards, 10 TDs
Completed the 2024 regular season with 103 catches for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Accolade: AP First-Team All-Pro (2024)
Named to the AP First-Team All-Pro again for the 2024 season.
Named team captain (2024 season)
Named a team captain for the Vikings for the 2024 season (second straight nod).
Signed 4-year, $140M contract extension
Signed a 4-year extension with Vikings worth $140 million, $110M guaranteed (through 2028) — highest-paid non-QB at $35M/year average.
Week 2: 97-yard TD and 400th career reception
Caught a 97-yard TD, reached 400 career receptions, and tied Lance Alworth as fastest to 6,000 receiving yards (62 games).
Broke record for most receiving yards in first five NFL seasons
Surpassed Torry Holt to become the career receiving yards leader through a player's first five seasons.
Cracked 1,000 receiving yards for 5th consecutive season (Week 13)
Eclipsed 1,000 yards vs. Arizona on Dec 1, becoming the fourth receiver to have 1,000+ yards in each of his first five seasons.
First multi-TD game in 2024 (Week 14) — broke touchdown drought
Finished with 132 yards and 2 TDs vs. Atlanta, his first multi-TD game after a six-game drought.
Week 16: 10 catches for 144 yards & 2 TDs vs. Seattle
Recorded 10 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–24 win.
Public appearances & media engagements (ongoing)
Continued media appearances, presentations at NFL Honors, and community outreach into 2025 (per Vikings media resources).
Key Achievement Ages
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