Justin Jefferson is having an exceptionally strong start to his career in the NFL, with the potential to continue to break numerous franchise and league records. The questions arise: Can he maintain this pace, and when might there be a slowdown? What factors contribute to his exceptional performance?
Many Factors Behind Justin Jefferson’s Excellence
Jefferson’s journey to the NFL sets him apart from the typical player. Jefferson a low three-star prospect, ranked by 247Sports as the nation’s 308th best wide receiver coming out of Destrehan High School, in Destrehan Louisiana.
Related: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Catches TD, Shouts Out Randy Moss on MNF
Jefferson recorded 44 receptions for 956 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior for Destrehan, while also returning kicks. JJ then committed to the LSU Tigers, his sole offer after high school. He proceeded to shatter records at LSU and eventually landed a spot with the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Jefferson was selected 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Jefferson Career Highlights and Awards
- AP All Pro (2024)
- PFWA All NFL Team (2024)
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2022)
- First-team All-Pro (2022)
- 2× Second-team All-Pro (2020, 2021)
- 3× Pro Bowl (2020–2022)
- NFL receptions leader (2022)
- NFL receiving yards leader (2022)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (2020)
- CFP national champion (2019)
- Second-team All-SEC (2019)
Jefferson currently owns the NFL record for most receiving yards per game with 98.3
| Player | Yards/ Game |
|---|---|
| Justin Jefferson | 96.5 |
| Ja’Marr Chase | 87.5 |
| Calvin Johnson | 86.1 |
| Antonio Brown | 84.2 |
| Julio Jones | 82.5 |
Other Justin Jefferson NFL Records
- Most Receiving Yards in a Player’s First Four Seasons: Jefferson broke the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a player’s first four seasons with 5,899 yards.
- Most Receiving Yards in a Player’s First Five Seasons: He holds the record for the most receiving yards in a player’s first five seasons with 7,378 yards.
- Fastest to Reach 5,000 Career Receiving Yards: Jefferson matched the NFL record for being the fastest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards in just 52 games, tying the record set by Lance Alworth in the 1960s.
- Youngest Player to Lead the League in Receptions and Receiving Yards: In 2022, at the age of 23, Jefferson became the youngest player to lead the NFL in both receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809) in a single season.
- Most Receiving Yards in a Player’s First Three Seasons: He set an NFL record with 4,825 receiving yards in his first three seasons.
Justin Jefferson Minnesota Vikings Franchise Records
- Most Receiving Yards by a Rookie: He broke Randy Moss’s Vikings rookie receiving yard record with 1,400 yards in 2020.
- Most Receiving Yards in First Five Seasons: He surpassed Randy Moss’s record for the most receiving yards by a player in his first five seasons with the Vikings
- Most Receiving Yards in a Season: Jefferson broke Randy Moss’s single-season receiving yard record with 1,809 yards in the 2022 season, surpassing Moss’s 1,632 yards from 2003.
- Most Receptions in a Season: He surpassed Cris Carter’s franchise record for the most receptions in a single season, recording 128 catches in 2022, which was above Carter’s previous record of 122.
- Most Receptions in a Player’s First Three Seasons: Jefferson set the Vikings franchise record for the most receptions in a player’s first three years in the NFL with 324 catches, beating Randy Moss’s previous record.
Related: Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Still Reigns Supreme Over Former Teammate Ja’Marr Chase
Career and Current Stats
*Season ongoing
| Year | Team | Gm | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Vikings | 17 | 103 | 1,533 | 14.9 | 10 |
| 2023 | Vikings | 10 | 68 | 1,074 | 15.8 | 5 |
| 2022 | Vikings | 17 | 128 | 1,809 | 14.1 | 8 |
| 2021 | Vikings | 17 | 108 | 1,616 | 15.0 | 10 |
| 2020 | Vikings | 16 | 88 | 1,400 | 15.9 | 7 |
| Total | 4 Seasons | 77 | 495 | 7,432 | 15.0 | 40 |
Random Facts about Justin Jefferson
- In his debut season with the Minnesota Vikings, Jefferson set a new record for the highest number of receiving yards by a rookie in a single season. Impressively, he now holds the record for the most 100-yard receiving games in the first three seasons of an NFL career, surpassing any other player in league history!
- Both of Justin’s brothers, Jason and Rickey, played football at LSU, with Jason as a quarterback and Rickey as a defensive back.
- “The Griddy,” Justin’s signature touchdown celebration, has gained worldwide recognition since its introduction in the NFL.
- Justin is the LSU single-season record holder for receptions with 111 set in 2019.
- Justin excelled in track and field in high school
- JJ was the first NFL player to be added to Fortnite with the dance, the Griddy
Is JJ a Hall of Famer?
Justin is in his fifth year in the NFL, but his future looks incredibly bright. With achievements that have already surpassed other’s dreams, he could retire today and likely make it to Canton. The potential impact Jefferson could have over his career is not even imaginable, yet scary for the rest of the NFL. JJ is just getting started.
Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in a Mostly Dominant Victory vs Packers
Justin Jefferson Facts
How old is Justin Jefferson?
Justin is 25 years old.
When was Justin Jefferson born?
He was born on June 16, 1999.
Where was JJ born?
Justin was born in St. Rose, LA.
What is Jefferson’s salary?
Jefferson has a cap hit of $8.5 million for the 2024 season after he signed his new contract before the season. He is guaranteed $1.125 million for this season with an additional $88.743 million he was guaranteed at signing.
How tall is Justin Jefferson?
He is 6-1 (185 cm) tall.
How much does Jefferson weigh?
Justin Jefferson weighs 195 lbs (88 kg).
What is JJ’s 40 yard dash time?
Jefferson ran a 4.43 second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
What position does Justin Jefferson play?
He plays wide receiver.
Related: Former Vikings Special Teams Coordinator Lands Job with Bill Belichick
Where did Justin Jefferson go to college?
Louisiana State University, also known as LSU.
Where did Justin Jefferson go to High School?
Destrehan High School, in Destrehan Louisiana.
What number is Justin Jefferson?
JJ wears number 18 for the Vikings, he wore number 2 for LSU.
Why does Justin Jefferson not wear #2 in the NFL?
When Jefferson got to the NFL, WRs weren’t allowed to wear single digit numbers. The NFL later had a rule change that allowed players to do so, He confirmed on twitter he wasn’t switching numbers.
Is Justin Jefferson sponsored by Nike?
No, recently he signed with Under Armour.
What is Justin Jefferson’s social media handles?
He is on Instagram at jjettas2, Justin is also on Twitter, TikTok and YouTube.