Justin Jefferson, an NFL player who plays for the Minnesota Vikings as a wide receiver, recently set a record after his contract renewal. He signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with $110 million guaranteed, according to ESPN.
According to the outlet, the deal, negotiated by WME Football, includes $88.743 million due at signing. The extension runs through the 2028 season. The deal makes him the highest-paid wide receiver ever or the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, as per ESPN on Monday.
“The time has finally come – the deal I have been dreaming of since I was a little kid,” he said in a video posted to Instagram. “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. … To be given a gift to play football at the highest level, it’s a blessing. It’s an honor.”
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The NFL player also thanked his parents, his brothers, his agent and the Vikings’ front office staff, coaches and fans.
“Y’all set the tone. Y’all set the mood. Y’all set the energy,” Jefferson said in the video. “And I’m definitely excited to set the energy for five more years. … This is the start of it, but we ain’t done yet. Just wait.”
Jefferson was drafted in 2020 as the 22nd overall pick. Originally from Louisiana, he completed 68 receptions; ran for 1,074 yards; and scored five touchdowns during the 2023 season.
“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,” Vikings General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah told ESPN. “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.”
Prior to signing the contract extension, he declined a contract offer from the Vikings that would have paid him over $28 million annually before the 2023 season. His gamble paid off, with Jefferson’s four-year extension averaging $35 million per season. He surpasses Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown as the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver.
Jefferson set the record for the most receiving yards in the first three seasons of a career (4,825) and then eclipsed 1,000 yards in 2023 despite missing seven games due to injuries.
What’s more, his 1,074 yards in 2023 were the most ever by an NFL player who had played 10 or fewer games in a season, according to ESPN.
