The 2025 season was, without a doubt, the most frustrating of his career for Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson. Rapport with quarterback J.J. McCarthy was never really able to gel, amid McCarthy's injuries and general struggles when he did play.
A hap-hazard contingency plan behind McCarthy was also a factor in Jefferson having the worst season of his career.
Two of Jefferson's three 100-yard games this season came with Carson Wentz under center, and the third came in Week 18 when McCarthy exited just after halftime.
Through that frustration, Jefferson did all he could to maintain a positive public face and be a team player. He was able to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to six to start his career, putting himself in rare historical territory. It's also fair to say getting him there was a priority in the game plan for an otherwise meaningless regular-season finale.
Jefferson could turn diva and try to force a trade out of Minnesota, but that is not how he's wired. He has expressed support for McCarthy, amid the obvious questions about who will be throwing him the ball next season and beyond.
Minnesota Vikings WR Justin Jefferson offers truth amid the kidding regarding his 2025 season
Jefferson was on "Up & Adams" with Kay Adams from Radio Row at Super Bowl LX earlier this week. Amid talking about the difficulties of this season and the positives that can be taken out of it, Adams asked a pertinent question with a somewhat tongue-in-cheek tone.
"You had 1,000 yards this year. How did you have 1,000 yards this year?", Adams said.
Jefferson matched Adams' tone, with a smile and laugh as he responded. But his words still landed, despite the tone of the conversation.
"Honestly, I don’t know,” Jefferson said. “I really don’t. There were some games I only had one or two catches, and you know, only 11 yards, 20 yards."
Jefferson then turned more serious with his answer.
"It's just staying a part of the program, staying a part of the plan. Obviously, it was a plan to get me more catches, more yards, more touchdowns, but it just didn’t happen that way.”
Jefferson then said, in his typical fashion, "it was just all about leaning on me as a captain and a leader of the team," and to "not really, for once, see me as that player that's getting 150 yards a game."
Vikings fans would agree with Jefferson in wondering how he was able to extend his streak of 1,000-yard seasons. His response to a tough season continues to be unique among his elite wide receiver peers.