Minnesota Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson once made poster material out of the Buffalo Bills with a one-handed catch.
The connection could be more as the trade rumor mill has turned for Jefferson this offseason amid quarterback uncertainty in Minnesota. Buffalo’ elevation of Joe Brady to head coach certainly stirred the pot a little more, given that Jefferson played for Brady at LSU when the Tigers won it all in 2019.
“I’ve been hearing a couple Mafia fans talking a little bit here and there, but I’m a Viking,” Jefferson told Kay Adams during the Up & Adams podcast on Wednesday.
Jefferson, who was promoting Sleep Number beds during the interview, didn’t shy away from one reality of Minnesota when Adams asked about the weather, however. The former LSU star has played for the Vikings since 2020.
“Minnesota is a lot more colder, so I’m gonna say I keep it cold in Minnesota,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson will stick with the Vikings for now amid a four-year, $140 million deal after a down year in 2025 with the rotation of quarterbacks. He had a career low two touchdowns but still made it to 1,000 yards for a sixth-straight season with a career low 1,048 yards on 84 receptions.
Justin Jefferson Gets Honest on Down Year
Jefferson didn’t minimize how the past season went when talking with Adams.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Jefferson has high expectations, and he has normally hauled in at least 1,400 yards and five touchdowns every season of his career. Disappointments with quarterback J.J. McCarthy and backups Carson Wentz and Max Bromser left things uncertain for all of 2025.
“Honestly, I don’t know,” Jefferson told Adams. “I really don’t. There were some games I only had one or two catches. Obviously, it was a plan to get me more catches, more yards, more TDS [touchdowns], but it just didn’t happen that way.”
Jefferson is among a rare group of receivers who have started their careers with six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. Only former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans have done it.
No Drama For Justin Jefferson
Regardless of the future, Jefferson doesn’t plan to stir up offseason drama amid the uncertainties in Minnesota.
“Yeah, I’m going to let it happen, and I don’t need to show it either. I’m not going to be posting it on Instagram or social media,” Jefferson told Adams. “That’s not my decision. I don’t care who’s throwing me that ball. That’s not my main priority, and I’ve said that multiple times. I don’t really care who’s going to be throwing that ball.”
“That person that’s throwing that ball needs to throw that ball, and lead us to into that big dance at the end of the season,” Jefferson added. “As of right now, J.J. is my quarterback. For me, it’s to get him to where we need to go, it starts off right now.”
Jefferson will make the most of the offseason and look to get back to career year form, which he had in 2024 when he caught 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Addresses Bills Trade Rumors