The Minnesota Vikings put together a season unlike anyone projected , in 2024. Third year head coach Kevin O'Connell pushed his team to 14 wins , 2nd most in franchise history, and an easy playoff berth , something that doesn't happen all that often here.
Sure, it all ended in a Wild Card round flame out, as 5-seed road losers to the LA Rams . But when we look back at the 2024 Vikings , we'll remember an overachieving team — projected in the preseason to win just 6.5 games — that rehabilitated QB Sam Darnold and flirted with an oh so elusive No. 1 seed in the NFC.
And few remember what really set the stage for Minnesota's 2024 success, which was Justin Jefferson cementing his future as a Viking by signing a record-setting $140 million contract extension ($110 million guaranteed), back at the start of June.
Credit: Rich Storry-Imagn Images
You often hear of players outperforming expectations during a contract season. After all, that's when the chips are in the middle of the table. After stars receive that first big payday, however, their drive to succeed can sometimes fall off.
Not Justin Jefferson, though. Instead, JJ fought through some of the most elaborate defensive gameplans schemed up to stop any one player all season. Week after week, the 25-year-old LSU alum fought over-the-top safety help and physical CB coverage, to earn every number on his 2024 final statline, which finished with 103 receptions, 1,533 receiving yardsand * 10 receiving touchdowns(*matched a career high).
Not only was JJ able to be individually productive — an impressive feat, given the insane amount of attention he gets from opposing defenses — but the focus he require from defensive gameplanners makes the lives of Jordan Addison , TJ Hockenson and Aaron Jones' all the easier on a game day.
That's why, on Tuesday morning, the 5-year veteran was named to the 2024 All-NFL Team, as voted on by the Pro Football Writers Association, an honor he absolutely earned.
. @JJettas2 has been named to the @PFWAwriters ' All-NFL team.
📰: https://t.co/qu8YPeMlKm pic.twitter.com/sYXOvEYCzD— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 21, 2025
The All-NFL Team honors have been voted on since 1966 with conference selections beginning in 1992. This is Jefferson's second career selection, the other being his standout 2022 season. Ja'Marr Chase joins his former LSU teammate this time around, as the only other wide receiver on the team.
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After dealing with a hamstring injur y and just playing 10 games last season, Jefferson was available for all 17 this year. It was his first working with new quarterback Sam Darnold , but it certainly didn't slow his performance.
How productive has Justin Jefferson been, to start his NFL career? After four seasons in the league, Jefferson's 96.5 career yards per gamecurrently sits as the best of any qualifying receiver in NFL history
. @JJettas2 CLUTCH. #ProBowlVote
📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/HFiWQZibHR— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 22, 2024
Prior to that fateful early-summer day, when JJ inked his new deal, there was plenty of public discourse regarding Jefferson's future. While other organizations called on the superstar , general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was determined to make sure it would be the Minnesota Vikings who were cutting Justin Jefferson's paychecks for the foreseeable future.
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At just 25 years old, Justin Jefferson still has plenty more career accolades to fill his personal trophy case with. The Minnesota Vikings paid him to be the league's best wideout and he didn't disappoint in year one of the new deal. I'd expect more of the same in 2025 and beyond.
