‘That’s kind of been my whole career’ — Vikings WR Justin Jefferson continues to prove he’s different from everyone else
Justin Jefferson is a unique player and the Vikings are so lucky to have him
The Minnesota Vikings don’t just have a super talented wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, they also have a special person.
Every single time Jefferson takes the field, he does so with a lot of attention and fanfare from the fanbase and the opposing team. Even though he wears multiple jewelry chains on and off the field, Jefferson isn’t like other players at his position: he’s not boastful nor tries to bring attention upon himself. It’s a special trait in a world where wide receivers are often considered divas.
Justin Jefferson Facts
- Minnesota Vikings selected him 22nd overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, one pick after the Philadelphia Eagles selected Jalen Reagor
- Holds the NFL record in receiving yards per game at 95.8
- Is a two-time first-team All Pro and four-time Pro Bowler
Justin Jefferson proves why he’s on a different level
One of the interesting things with Jefferson’s career has been how inconsistent the quarterback position has been. In his career, the Vikings have started eight different quarterbacks. For most players, that would be a major issue. It hasn’t been for Jefferson, and he said that on Thursday after practice.
“That’s kind of been my whole entire career since I’ve been here,” said Jefferson, “It’s just not really flinching on that type of deal. The only thing that I can’t control is going out there and catching the ball, winning on my routes and making sure that I’m open for the quarterback to see. So it really doesn’t matter who’s out there throwing the ball, and I’ve always had, always have confidence in myself and the person throwing the ball that we’re going to make something shake.”
It’s not just Jefferson’s words that exemplify that, it’s his actions and performance on the field. In 2023 when Jefferson had four different quarterbacks start in the 10 games he played, his targets, catches, and yards remained steady. The touchdowns were significantly higher with Kirk Cousins (seven) than it was with the other three quarterback (three), but touchdowns for an individual player is somewhat random.
We’ve seen many wide receivers have a “diva” mentality where they publically talk about how they need to get the ball more. In fact, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown has already shown frustration this year about how little he’s been involved, and subsequently issued a statement about his tweets. We don’t get that from Jefferson, which is such a blessing.
“At the end of the day, my job is to go out there and catch the ball and be an open target for my quarterback.”
The man they call Jets is special, and the Vikings are very lucky to have him.
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