Justin Jefferson + Anthony Edwards Throwback Reshoot Photos are Finally Here

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Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are in the midst of a surprise 5-1 season. Tuesday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves tip-off their highly-anticipated 2024-25 season too. Both teams have two of the fastest rising superstars in each respective league.

The Vikings have (WR) Justin Jefferson, who is on his way to shattering ever franchise receiving record on the books, on a team that Randy Moss and Cris Carter played for. Then, there’s (G) Anthony Edwards, who many in the NBA have already crowned the next face of the league. He just cracked the ESPN NBA Top 10 players for the first time last week.

So on Tuesday, with all the Vikings hype and Wolves anticipation peaking, it was a perfect day for ESPN to drop Ant and JJ’s iconic jersey-swap photo reshoot, meant to pay homage to what Randy Moss and Kevin Garnett created all those years ago.

Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson’s legendary jersey swap

We heard inklings that Justin Jefferson and Anthony Edwards were doing this photo shoot months ago. Then, it became real when behind the scene photos leaked back in early September. About 7 weeks later, the new ESPN Magazine cover and feature story are here.

Calling the Jefferson and Edwards duo “Minnesota’s Coldest” as Jamal Collier did for the tagline would be to come correct.

There has been no greater stars across the state, and maybe not since Moss and Garnett, than Jefferson and Edwards. This wasn’t just a photo shoot though. ESPN showed off a behind-the-scenes look at the making of as well.

Although the meeting may have been about a photoshoot for ESPN, both Jefferson and Edwards clearly have a purpose. These are two friends that understand the expectations. They have the weight of an entire state on their backs and both revel in that opportunity.

Related: If the Timberwolves Win it All, Anthony Edwards Says He’s Switching Sports… Seriously

“I just want to bring a championship to Minnesota. The people are too good here. The fan base is too good. It’s been a long time coming.”

Justin Jefferson on winning a title (ESPN)

“If I can, I’m trying to be here for my whole career. I ain’t trying to go nowhere.”

Anthony Edwards on being in Minnesota (ESPN)

It’s a mentality for Jefferson and Edwards. Not only does the pairing have a strong friendship, but their desire to be the best at everything they do is unwavering. Of course Edwards still believes he can play football, and Jefferson thinks he’d score in the NBA. No matter what though, the perspective of who came before them isn’t lost.

Related: Minnesota Vikings Seriously Considering a Move to Dalton Risner

“KG, the best Minnesota basketball player of all time. And right now, I’m trying to go for that. And Randy, I mean, I like [Adrian Peterson], too, but Randy’s the best. JJ trying to go for that.”

Edwards on KG and Moss (ESPN)

At the end of the day this was about so much more than a photoshoot. Anthony Edwards and Justin Jefferson weren’t just trying to make a magazine cover. This isn’t two elite athletes that happened to be brought into the same room. A pair of Minnesota franchises have star leaders that want to make a generational sort of impact.

Related: Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards Makes Top 10 Debut in NBA Rankings

Both players are well on their way towards becoming Moss and Garnett. Neither wound up bringing a championship to the state, and this pairing accomplishing that would put them into a whole different realm.

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