EAGAN, Minn. – Surrounded by a wall adorned with his football memorabilia, Justin Jefferson settled into a chair, poised to announce his latest milestone in NFL history.
"The time has finally come — the deal I have been waiting for since I was a little kid," he began in a video message posted at 8:18 a.m. (CT) today, aligning the announcement with his No. 18 Vikings jersey.
He reflected on the doubts cast upon him during high school and the 2020 NFL Draft but emphasized his gratitude to those who believed in him.
Their unwavering support through the highs and lows helped him secure the highest contract for a non-quarterback in NFL history: a four-year deal added to the final year of his rookie contract. Once signed, Jefferson will be with the Vikings through 2028.
"First off, I want to thank the man above. Without God, this wouldn't be possible at all," Jefferson said. "To be given a gift to play football at the highest level is a blessing and an honor.
"To my mom and dad, thank you. This journey is for all of us, and y'all are with me every step of the way," Jefferson continued. "To my brothers, Rickey and Jordan, y'all are everything. You made me who I am today. This is a new step in our journey, a new step in life. I always dreamt of this moment, and now to share it with all of y'all — a dream we all had — it's a blessing."
Jefferson also expressed his gratitude to the Wilf family ownership group of the Vikings, Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the fans for setting "the tone, the mood, the energy."
Jefferson added the following statement in a press release from the team:
"I would not be in this position if not for my family and their support. I'm so thankful for them instilling a foundational gratitude and competitive fire within me," Jefferson said. "I'd like to thank the Wilf family, Kevin O'Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the entire Vikings organization for believing in me and trusting me to help lead this team. To all my teammates and coaches from the very beginning as a kid in Louisiana all the way to the NFL, thank you for always being there for me and pushing me. Lastly, to Vikings fans everywhere, you'll continue to get my very best each and every day. SKOL!"
The Vikings did not detail the financial terms of the contract but did confirm it sets a record among non-quarterbacks.
The extension fulfilled the public commitment made by Adofo-Mensah and O'Connell to secure this outcome multiple times.
"We are elated to sign Justin, and I want to thank him, his family, his representation, our staff, specifically [Executive Vice President of Football Operations] Rob Brzezinski and [Manager of Football Administration] Emily Badis, and the Wilf family for helping complete this monumental contract," Adofo-Mensah said. "From the moment I arrived in Minnesota, Justin has consistently proven to be one of the best players in the NFL on and off the field, and we are excited about having him as a cornerstone of our team for a long time to come. He is the living embodiment of our culture with his joyful dedication to process and our goals. We couldn't be more excited for Justin and his family."
O'Connell added:
"Justin is an exceptionally talented player and an incredible person that I am honored to coach and have as a team captain. His positive energy and love for the game shows up every single day as he works to be the best at his craft. As coaches, we will do our part in helping him maximize his ability. I'm grateful to the Wilfs, Kwesi, Rob Brzezinski, and our staff for ensuring one of the brightest stars in professional sports will continue his career as a Minnesota Viking."
Jefferson will be able to build on the historic start to his career as the 2020 first-round pick. He has recorded 392 receptions for 5,899 yards and 30 scores, already ranking 10th in franchise history in receptions and eighth in yards. His receiving touchdowns are tied for 9th with Stefon Diggs, whose trade by Minnesota netted the selection used for Jefferson.
"Over the first four seasons of his career, Justin entrenched himself as the best wide receiver and one of the most electric players in the NFL," Vikings Owners Mark and Zygi Wilf said. "He is a special talent, a committed teammate, and an excellent representative of the Vikings. Justin has earned this contract, and we are thrilled he will remain a Minnesota Viking for a very long time."
Across the NFL since 2020, Jefferson ranks sixth in receptions, second in yards, and is tied for 11th in touchdown catches, even though he missed seven full games in 2023.
Jefferson returned from his Week 5 hamstring injury last season to finish with 68 receptions for 1,074 yards and five touchdowns. While those were single-season career lows for the three-time Pro Bowler and 2022 First-Team All-Pro, they were still impressive and extended his streak of consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards to four.
He joined Michael Thomas (2016-19), Mike Evans (2014-17), A.J. Green (2011-14), and Vikings Ring of Honor member Randy Moss (1998-2001) as the only players in NFL history to open their careers with four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Evans has hit that mark in each of his 10 NFL seasons. Moss did so in each of his first six campaigns, and Green reached the milestone in each of his first five.
Originally selected by the Vikings in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jefferson has played in 60 career games (57 starts) and has totaled 100-plus receiving yards in 29 games, including 223 at Detroit in December 2022 to set a new Vikings record in a regular-season game.
Jefferson's 29 games of 100-plus yards rank second behind Moss' 30 through five NFL seasons, so he needs just two such games this season to break another record. Moss played in 80 games through his first five seasons.
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