The Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson have spent the last four seasons together, and on Monday the team added another four years to the backend of the star wide receiver’s contract.
Jefferson on June 3 signed a four-year extension worth $140 million ($35 million annually), making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the history of the NFL. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network was among the first to officially break the news.
“The #Vikings and superstar WR Justin Jefferson have agreed to terms on a four-year, $140 million contract extension, including $110 million in guarantees, sources tell me and @RapSheet,” Pelissero wrote on X. “Still only 24 years old, Jefferson is now the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history.”
Justin Jefferson Expresses Gratitude to Family, Fans
GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Shortly after the news of his new deal broke, Jefferson posted a heartfelt message to his Instragram account addressed to family, fans and supporters along the way.
Posting to Instagram — fittingly, at 8:18 a.m. CT — Justin Jefferson seems hyped to be staying in Minnesota.
The time has finally come. The deal I’ve been waiting for since I was a little kid. Being doubted my whole career, not being highly recruited, not being the first receiver off the draft board — this whole journey wasn’t easy for me.
First off, I wanna thank the Man above. Without God, this wouldn’t be possible at all. To be given a gift to play football at the highest level — it’s a blessing, it’s an honor.
My mom and dad, thank you. This was a journey for all of us, and ya’ll still with us every step of the way. To my brothers, Rickey and Jordan, ya’ll are everything. Ya’ll 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 to now share it with all of ya’ll, a dream that we all had, it’s a blessing.
Kevin O’Connell, Kwesi [Adofo-Mensah], the Wilfs, I appreciate y’all for giving me this opportunity. Ben, my agent, thank you for getting this deal done.
Last but not least, thank you to the fans. Ya’ll set the tone, ya’ll set the mood, ya’ll set the energy, and I’m definitely excited to set that energy for five more years. Thank you all of the ones who supported me throughout the whole way. This is the start of it, but we ain’t done yet. Just wait.
Vikings Secure Perhaps Best WR in NFL by Extending Justin Jefferson
GettyWide receiver Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jefferson has been arguably the best wideout in football over the past four seasons, during which he has amassed three Pro Bowl selections, earned first-team All-Pro honors once and set several early-career receiving records.
Across 60 regular season games played, Jefferson has tallied 392 catches for 5,899 yards and 30 TDs, per Pro Football Reference. He led the league in catches (128) and yards (1,809) in 2022.
The only season of Jefferson’s career in which he failed to earn Pro Bowl honors came last year, when he lost seven games to a hamstring strain. Despite that obstacle, and a subsequent season-ending injury to then-quarterback Kirk Cousins, Jefferson still went on to tally 68 catches for 1,074 yards and 5 scores in 2024.
With Cousins now gone, who will throw to Jefferson over the course of the 2024 campaign becomes a battle between veteran Sam Darnold, who signed a one-year deal with Minnesota this offseason, and rookie J.J. McCarthy, who the Vikings selected No. 10 overall in the 2024 draft.
