NFL star Jaxon Smith-Njigba flaunts the multi-ethnic roots of Sierra Leone, African, and American, inherited from his paternal grandparents and diverse parents, respectively.
Jaxon Smith was born in 2002 to parents, mother Lakita Smith and father Kelechi “Maada” Njigba.
He grew up in a family where his parents passed down a sense of pride in their origins.
His father, Maada Smith-Njigba, brings the Sierra Leonean side of the family into the picture, with roots that go back to his own parents, who came from that country in West Africa.
Jaxon inherited Sierra Leonean descent from his paternal grandparents, who moved to the United States from Sierra Leone in the 1970s.
His grandfather, John, adopted the last name Smith, but the family kept Njigba to hold onto their true identity. Later, the NFL star decided to use the full name on his jersey starting in high school as a way to remember that part of himself.
The surname Njigba itself points to West African origins, often linked to groups in Nigeria. However, the main tie for Jaxon remains Sierra Leone through his grandparents.
Whereas Jaxon flaunts his American roots inherited from his mother’s side.
On his mother’s side, Jami Smith adds the American heritage, creating a mix that Jaxon carries with him every day. She supported his football dreams from the beginning, attending games and encouraging him alongside his dad.
Jaxon Proudly Flaunts His Multi-Ethnic Roots!
The NFL player has always been vocal about his immense pride in his heritage.
In one interview with Fox Sports before he joined the NFL, he explained it clearly when talking about his family’s past, saying:
It’s our blood. My dad made sure we knew where we came from and our background and how our grandfather had to work for everything and change his name to get jobs. We know things aren’t going to be given to us. We know we have to work for it.
Similarly, Jaxon honors his grandparents’ descent without words by wearing the Sierra Leone flag on the back of his helmet during Seahawks games.
During the NFL’s Heritage Program in 2023, Jaxon represented Sierra Leone officially, joining other players in celebrating their international ties through special decals on their gear.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- His father, Maada, played football in college as a linebacker and now works as a firefighter and paramedic in Dallas, always teaching his sons about the importance of effort and family history.
- Jaxon’s brother, Canaan Elijah Smith-Njigba, is an American professional baseball outfielder.
