Money Hasn't Changed Justin Jefferson and That's Terrifying For NFL Secondaries (2024)

For four seasons Justin Jefferson has been walking history. The Minnesota Vikings' superstar has racked 5,899 career yards, the most in history over the first four years of a career, even though he missed seven games last year with an injury. If cumulative stats aren't your thing, the man affectionately (and accurately) known as Jets is also the NFL's career leader in receiving yards per game at 98.7, a number he has bumped up each season of his career.

Now, the historic player has the historic contract to match. The four-year, $140 million contract extension he signed this summer includes $110 million guaranteed and makes him the highest paid non-quarterback in the league. But that money isn't changing Justin or motivating him anymore than he already was for the precedent-setting start to his career.

"I never really was focused on the contract," Justin told Complex. "I knew the contract was going to come just based off of my plan style, how I play and what I do for the organization. I'm always going to be smiling and going to be myself out there on that field and just letting my play do all little talking that I need to do."

This year the little things will include building chemistry with a new quarterback. Kirk Cousins, the only quarterback he'd even known in his pro career tore his achilles in Week 8 last season and left Minnesota to join the Atlanta Falcons with his own nine figure contract in the offseason.

"Having Kirk for four years, that's the chemistry that you can't really just find down the street," Jefferson said. "That's just something that just doesn't come right off the bat. That's something that's built and something that's just stacked on top of the day and day after all of the countless situations that we've been through. All of the things that we've done together and accomplished together, that's something that just doesn't come with a new quarterback."

But that doesn't mean the three-time Pro Bowler is discouraged. In fact he's been enjoying building chemistry with the new man under center and the man who seems to be anointed as the heir apparent in Minnesota.

"Building that chemistry, building that connection with Sam (Darnold) and even (injured first round pick) J.J. (McCarthy) for future references, it is definitely something that's important," Justin stated. "Just talking to him every single day and trying to see where his head at on different route schemes and different plays and I'm confident in him. I'm always confident in whoever's throwing me the ball, but just seeing him hands on how he throws the deep throw accuracy and the ball placement and everything, I feel like he's going to have a big year for us, especially with the different guys that's surround him, the weapons that's surrounding him. I feel like it shouldn't be a big problem for him to get the ball in different guys' hands and let us go to work."

It will be an uphill climb as Jefferson and Darnold build that chemistry. The Vikings are smack dab in the middle of the toughest division in football, the only division to feature four teams who won at least seven games last year. This season each team has reason to be excited and expect a leap in play. Every team has retooled, and the Bears even added the No. 1 overall pick and the most exciting QB prospect that franchise has seen.

"It's definitely going to be a tough division just with the younger guys that's coming in," Jefferson said. "It's never easy, especially going away and playing in their environment, but that's what we signed up for. That's something that we got to just physically and mentally buy in and understand that it is going to be a war, is going to be a battle going into those difficult environments. But there's a goal that we're trying to reach. There's a goal that everyone's trying to reach, which is the Super Bowl. So it doesn't matter the different circumstances, the situations that we're put in, no matter who's in front of us, it is our job to go out there and kill whoever's stepping in front and go and get a victory at the end of the day."

And when Jefferson hops off the bus, whether it's at home in Minnesota or on the road he's going to make sure he makes a statement. Big shades, bigger chains, gleaming grills and loud fits in the tunnel are just as flashy as his play on the field.

"I'm a man of style. I'm a man of how I look and a man of swagger," Justin said with a laugh. "Whenever that camera's on me, I got to have the best fit. I got to have the best look. I got to look the best. So in order for that to happen, I can't do it myself of course because I'm stationary in Minnesota. Minnesota doesn't have the biggest variety of clothing here. So just having different people go to different spots and getting me different stuff. So it's a team effort man. It's a team effort, but whatever you see on game day is something I'll put together myself. So just say I got the own style."
That combination of flash and performance on the field, style on it and personality to match has made the man who popularized the Griddy one of the most marketable stars in the sport.

Money Hasn't Changed Justin Jefferson and That's Terrifying For NFL Secondaries (1)

Gatorade

The latest partnership he's adding to his vast portfolio is an iconic one: Gatorade.

Jefferson joins a star studded crew linking with the brand ahead of this season. Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson, Los Angeles Rams All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua and Diana Flores, the first flag football athlete to join the Gatorade family. The group will star as part of the "You Know We Got ‘IT’” campaign, to a new flip and Gatorade's revival of the brand’s iconic tagline “Is It In You?.”

"I mean to even get the news that they wanted me on the team is something that I was stoked about," the noted "purple" Gatorade fan revealed. "Being a fan of Gatorade for a long time, ever since a kid seeing LeBron James, seeing Michael Jordan on those different commercials and wanting to be a part of those different commercials, want to be that top tier athlete. That's the main focus on that commercial and the main focus of their brand. Totally. So it's an honor to be a part of their team and to work with them and I'm excited to see what we have in store together. Putting up some different pieces and projects and seeing how far this thing go."

But for now, Justin is focused on the new season and all of the potential he and his team has.

"I'm definitely excited for this upcoming season, especially with some of the new guys that we're having in the building on the roster and just the potential that we have in our building is just something that we're excited about," he said through his million watt smile. "Of course we have a lot of changes that we made in the all season, with my contract signing some other guys and just adding some new guys onto the roster. I'm excited to see how everything will pan out onto just what we expect and how it actually goes."

Money Hasn't Changed Justin Jefferson and That's Terrifying For NFL Secondaries (2024)

FAQs

How bad was Justin Jefferson's injury? ›

Jefferson had suffered a "pulmonary contusion," in essence a bruised lung. An exam at a local hospital revealed Jefferson had not broken any ribs, nor did he have a more serious injury such as a collapsed lung. The bruise itself was manageable, Jefferson was told.

What did Justin Jefferson say about Kirk's cousins? ›

I feel like he just wanted a new start, a new opportunity to start with Atlanta and a clean slate and I'm not mad at him at all for that. I'm grateful for what he has brought me and the things we have accomplished together."

Why Justin Jefferson is the best? ›

Jefferson 'has the intangibles' to be all-time great

But he makes spectacular catches, regularly. He has registered more receiving yards in his first four years than anyone else (5,899) - despite missing seven games last season. He also tops the all-time list for average yards per game (98.3).

Is Justin Jefferson a good fantasy pick? ›

Field Yates and Daniel Dopp explain why Justin Jefferson's high fantasy potential justifies a top-8 pick.

Did Justin Jefferson get fines? ›

The NFL has fined Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson $13,659 for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions after scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 16.

What did Kirk Cousins yell? ›

A seemingly reserved Cousins can get caught up in the joy or frustration of the moment — as we've seen famously in the past whether he is shouting, "You like that!" at his doubters, giving Adam Thielen impromptu (and perhaps unwanted) route-running tips mid-game or getting in Mike Zimmer's face after a game-winning ...

Why did Washington lose Kirk Cousins? ›

Washington's organization was unanimous in not wanting to pay Cousins as much as he got from Minnesota, knowing it still needed to build around him. Gruden said the best solution, knowing it would be tough to re-sign him, was trading him so it would get more than a third-round compensatory pick.

Does Kirk Cousins have a cousin in the MLB? ›

Did you know Kirk Cousins' cousin, Jake Cousins, is a pitcher for the Yankees? And Jake has a 1.95 ERA this year 👀 By MLBFacebook.

Could Justin Jefferson be MVP? ›

Justin Jefferson is not one of the favorites to win the NFL MVP award this year, at +30000 (19th-ranked odds).

Is Justin Jefferson the best WR in the NFL? ›

This reality is less than ideal for Justin Jefferson, who is arguably the league's best receiver. Nearly 90 percent of Jefferson's career targets have come from Kirk Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler carrying an above-average touchdown rate, completion percentage and yards-per-attempt mark for his career.

Did Justin Jefferson make the Griddy popular? ›

When Chase began playing football for LSU, he showed it to fellow wide receiver Justin Jefferson. After performing The Griddy at collegiate level games, Chase and Jefferson brought the dance to the NFL, bringing it popularity among players, celebrities, and fans.

Who should be #1 fantasy pick? ›

Round 1, Picks 1-3: Draft a wide receiver or Christian McCaffrey. Anyone with the first overall pick should take McCaffrey with little hesitation. The Niners back scored over 100 more PPR points than any other running back last season and has the perfect combination of talent, opportunity and situation.

What QB to pick for fantasy? ›

Last updated: 7:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 30
RankNameTier
1Josh Allen1
2Jalen Hurts1
3Patrick Mahomes2
4Lamar Jackson2
36 more rows
Aug 30, 2024

Who will be the best fantasy kicker? ›

Kicker TierKicker RankKicker Name
11Justin Tucker
12Jake Elliott
13Harrison Butker
24Ka'imi Fairbairn
29 more rows
2 days ago

What injury did Justin Shorter have? ›

Shorter spent the 2023 campaign on IR due to a hamstring injury after the Bills selected him in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

What happened with Justin Jefferson? ›

Coughing up blood in Raiders game

After two months of rehabbing his hamstring injury, Jefferson was taken to a hospital via ambulance when he took a shot to his back in his first game back Week 14 against the Raiders. Netflix captured the moments after the hit that left him coughing on the field.

What NFL record did Justin Jefferson break? ›

He led the league and posted career highs in receptions (128) and receiving yards (1,809), becoming the youngest player in NFL history to do so.

How much did Justin Jefferson get paid? ›

His $35 million annual salary not only eclipses recent record-setting deals but also surpasses the previous benchmark set by A.J. Brown earlier this year.

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