The 25-year-old is the younger brother of former LSU players Jordan and Ricky Jefferson.
Justin Jefferson, the Vikings’ wide receiver, has consistently delivered outstanding performances since being picked by the team in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The 2022 “NFL Offensive Player of the Year” played collegiate football for Louisiana State University, where he became the Tigers’ leading receiver in his sophomore year and led the nation with 111 catches for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns in his junior year.
Beyond his exceptional route-running, speed, catching ability, high football IQ, work ethic, and dedication, Justin has his parents, John and Elaine Jefferson, to thank for his outstanding performance.
Justin comes from a family of athletes; his brothers, Jordan and Rickey, also played football at LSU, and his parents, John and Elaine, played basketball in their youth.
John and Elaine Jefferson, who originally hail from Slidell, Louisiana, attended Slidell High School, where both of them were student-athletes.
John went on to attend Nebraska Western and then transferred to the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He played basketball at both colleges.
However, he never made it to the NBA; instead, he pursued a career as an industrial supply salesman.
After John graduated from college, he and Elaine moved to Destrehan, Louisiana.
Elaine worked as an administrator in the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The pair married on July 24, 1993.
As the youngest son of a very competitively athletic family, Justin, born June 16, 1999, was raised in the perfect environment for his future career as an NFL star.
John and Elaine, both nearly 6 feet tall, allowed their sons to pursue their own paths in competitive sports, never forcing them into one sport or the other.
In an interview with The Advocate, John Jefferson explained,
It wasn’t something we pushed. As a kid they just had the natural gift to play [football].
PEOPLE
While all three brothers have immense talent in football, their dad still outshone them in basketball.
In a 2022 ESPN interview, Rickey Jefferson said,
I didn’t beat my dad in basketball till I was 19, and we’re talking about a dude who had a hip replacement. He was ultra-competitive, and he might have called that foul late in the game that he wouldn’t have called earlier.
PEOPLE
Justin, Rickey, and Jordan never had to struggle financially during their childhood.
In a 2023 Bleacher Report interview, Justin revealed,
My parents always had money and I was blessed to be a part of a two-parent household that supported me and pretty much gave me anything I needed in the sports aspect and daily life.
bleacherreport.com
The family still remains close today. Justin has paid tribute to his parents and brothers countless times, including when he was named the 2022 Offensive Player of the Year, when he said,
I’ve got to thank my parents, John and Elaine Jefferson. Y’all made me into the man I am today. I appreciate y’all so much. My brothers, Jordan and Rickey, y’all made me into who I am. Y’all were so hard on me; all the countless times I cried at home, y’all were the reason that I’m tough. I appreciate y’all. More to come, more to come.
PEOPLE
When Justin signed a contract extension with the Vikings in June 2024, he said,
Shout out to my parents. Shout out to Jordan, shout out to Rickey and shout out to all of my family members. I have a great support system in every single thing that I do — from the time I was a little kid ’til now, being in the league and playing professionally. They’ve been here every step of the way. I could not ask for better family members.
VIKINGS
John and Elaine instilled values of humility and gratitude in their sons.
Justin said to Star Tribune,
My parents preached to be humble and just take what you’ve been given. And God definitely has given me a great opportunity to have this gift of mine and also have my platform to spread my joy and love of the game on and off the field. All of the things coming my way are definitely God’s blessing.
PEOPLE
This upbringing has kept him grounded despite his rapid rise in professional football.
justin jefferson had the coldest first touchdown in nfl history 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/5XacwcZ6bD
— DripMasterFlex 🕷️ (@DripMasterFlex1) November 14, 2024
The eldest Jefferson brother, Jordan, born August 25, 1990, played college football at LSU from 2008 to 2011 as a quarterback.
He started as a true freshman and quickly made a name for himself, earning the MVP title in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Bowl.
Throughout his college career, Jordan was known for his leadership and ability to perform under pressure, leading LSU to several significant victories.
After going undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, Jordan signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
He also had brief stints with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL, the Pittsburgh Power in the AFL, and the Omaha Mammoths in the FXFL.
The middle child, Rickey Jefferson, born December 28, 1994, played college football at LSU, where he was a versatile defensive back.
During his time at LSU, he recorded 65 tackles, seven pass breakups, and three interceptions.
Rickey was known for his good hands, explosive first step, and closing speed.
In his senior year, he wore the number 9 jersey to honor his older brother, Jordan, who wore the same number when he played quarterback at LSU.
Professionally, Rickey Jefferson went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent.
He spent time on the practice squads of the Saints and the Las Vegas Raiders.
Although his NFL career was brief, Rickey’s journey to the professional level showcased his determination and his family’s athletic prowess.
Defensive back Rickey Jefferson with a time of 4.58 at today's Pro Day. pic.twitter.com/5v55a0HGlJ
— LSU Football (@LSUfootball) April 5, 2017
John and Elaine may not have pressured him too hard, but his older brothers, Jordan and Rickey, certainly showed him tough love.
As the youngest of three, Justin often had to keep up with his competitive older siblings.
Jordan shared, “Mom always said, ‘You gotta look after each other,’” which translated into his brothers challenging Justin on and off the field.
Reflecting on their dynamic, Justin noted in an interview with GQ,
They definitely made me into who I am, made me tougher, made me into a better player.
YouTube/GQSports
Growing up in a household led by two loving, competitive, and dedicated parents, Justin and his brothers, Jordan and Rickey, were shaped by the lessons of humility and hard work.
From their early days in Louisiana to their professional careers, the Jefferson family have always been each other’s greatest supporters.
John and Elaine’s approach to raising their sons without pressure but with boundless encouragement created the foundation for Justin’s success—ultimately turning him into one of the most electrifying talents in professional football today.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Justin Jefferson is currently in a relationship with Tianna Harris, a Canadian soccer player and Instagram model.
- Despite signing a $140 million contract, Jefferson chooses to live in a modest townhouse.
- Coming out of high school, Justin was a two-star recruit and ranked 2,166th nationally.
- He starred in the Netflix documentary series “Receiver,” which follows five of the NFL’s top wide receivers throughout the 2023 season.
