Minnesota Vikings superstar Justin Jefferson is unrivaled by his contemporaries — but the conversation comparing his career to Jerry Rice’s is still a decade away.
Jefferson is currently averaging an NFL record 95.9 yards per game, but for him to surpass Rice’s 22,895 career receiving yards record, Jefferson would have to maintain that pace into his mid-30s.
Rice’s immaculate records are a product of his being a productive receiver into his 40s as part of a career that spanned three decades.
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tallied what it would take for Jefferson to match Rice, which would require Jefferson to maintain his average of 1,500 yards receiving for the next 10 years.
“Upon hearing that timeline, Jefferson laughed and said it would be a ‘pretty good number,’ ” Seifert wrote.
However, Jefferson admitted that he will not be lingering around the league to record chase once he’s past his prime.
“Hey man,” Jefferson said, “whenever guys tell me the wheels are falling off, that’s when I’m hanging it up. Until then, yeah, I’m definitely trying to get as much and get what I can. But once you get past the thirties, that’s when it gets tough. That’s when your body starts feeling tremendously different. You got to have a different routine, different diet, all of that stuff. So as I’m getting older, I’m trying to learn more and more as I get older.”
Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Marvels at Jerry Rice Records
GettyFormer 49ers WR Jerry Rice.
Whether it’s on film or merely a glance at the statsheet, Rice’s career was incredible.
Yet, Jefferson argues that the San Francisco 49ers star would have put up even more ridiculous numbers in the modern NFL.
“I’ve watched so much about him on video and it’s just crazy what he did,” Jefferson told ESPM. “It’s crazy because so much was different back then from now. It’s so much more advanced now. The throwing game has upgraded so much. So the fact that he had 22,000 in those times is unreal.
“What if he had more passing? What would he have if he was in this type of system [in Minnesota]? What type of numbers would he have? So it’s definitely tough to really think about breaking them. That’s why he’s always going to have the argument for being the GOAT. To have 22,000 yards, it’s unreal.”
Where Justin Jefferson Stands All-Time Among NFL Receivers
Amid his sixth season in the NFL, Jefferson has posted more receiving yards than any player in league history with 7,960 yards receiving before a Week 8 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night.
Jefferson is slated to become the youngest player to surpass 8,000 receiving yards — but he must maintain his pace for several more seasons before entering the upper echelon of all-time greats.
Fifty-seven players have surpassed 10,000 yards receiving in NFL history, and it would take 14,000 yards receiving to become an undisputable Hall of Famer.
Jefferson is well on his way, but longevity will be key for the young Vikings star. He’s proved to have a good head on his shoulders and has only suffered one major injury in his career, a hamstring that cost him nine games in the 2023 season.
When all is said and done, Jefferson has a case to be an all-time great — so long as he stays the course.
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