What “Receiver” Taught Us About Justin Jefferson
Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
If you haven’t yet made weekend plans, or plan on canceling them, I recommend filling that void in your life by binging Netflix’s “Receiver.” It’s the spiritual successor to last year’s “Quarterback,” which followed three NFL quarterbacks during the 2022 season, including that one guy who plays for the Atlanta Falcons. Again, Viking fans are treated with some further insight into one of their beloved players. This year, we get to follow Justin Jefferson as he navigated the 2023 season. I’ll avoid major spoilers, but I wanted to share some key takeaways about Jefferson after watching the series.
He’s A Shockingly Normal Human
The series gives viewers a peek into Justin’s personal life and living situation, and it’s every bit as understated as Kirk Cousins pretends his life is. Fun fact: Justin Jefferson lives in a relatively modest townhouse. Not that there’s anything wrong with living in a townhouse, and no, I’m not sure what I expected. But a run-of-the-mill townhouse wasn’t on my list of potential living situations for arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL.
Yes, I get this was filmed before he signed his massive new contract, but for a young athlete at the top of his game making millions of dollars, it just came as a bit of a surprise. Justin explains to viewers that he’s not one to seek attention, but when he puts on the chains, sunglasses, and grill, it’s showtime and he becomes “Jets” versus “Justin” when he’s just living his everyday life.
The normalcy doesn’t stop there. We found out that Justin also loves candy! Who doesn’t love candy?! So you’re telling me if I can run the route tree, eat Sour Patch Kids, and live in a middle-class townhouse, I can also be on the Minnesota Vikings roster? Maybe at 38 years old there’s hope for me after all.
His Injuries Were More Serious Than We Thought
If you’re a Vikings fan, it should come as no surprise that Jefferson’s 2023 campaign was riddled with injuries. It began with a hamstring injury in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and the series shows Justin rehabbing and doing everything he can to get back on the field. Jefferson also goes on to explain at length how much he enjoys the game and would never hold back from returning to the field.
This is a subtle rebuke of some of the narratives being thrown around that Justin was “holding out” or delaying his return to send a message due to ongoing contract negotiations. He finally got healthy enough to see the field again against the Raiders in Week 14, just to see him suffer a lung contusion that had him spitting up blood on the sidelines. If you thought the rules today stripped players of the whole “modern-day gladiators” status, I can assure you, the label still applies.
Winning Matters. A Lot.
One common theme throughout Jefferson’s segments was how much he cares about winning football games. Like, really cares. The show highlights his fumble out of the endzone in the Week 2 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles that, arguably, cost the Vikings the football game. Jefferson didn’t just shrug it off as another play. He looked frustrated at himself and took his role in the loss personally.
In another episode, Justin explains how, while numbers are great, anything less than winning makes them just a “waste.” These are the kind of things you want to see and hear out of your superstars if you’re a fan: a player that loves the game and takes winning as seriously as his craft. If Jefferson can continue to bring this same passion and leadership in 2024, this has to benefit a young QB like J.J. McCarthy. This connection could ELECTRIC!
KOC Kicks ASS
After the Week 2 loss in Philadelphia, the show picks up audio from the postgame address head coach Kevin O’Connell gives the team. Since taking over HC duties, I’ve been critical of O’Connell’s coaching style at times. I’ve had concerns he might be too much “player’s coach” with not enough “One Eyed Zimmer” in his DNA.
It’s safe to say I’m less concerned about that after hearing his expletive-riddled rant regarding the Vikings’ fumbling issues early in the year. We keep it family-friendly around here (except for putting “ASS” in the header, blame my editor), so if you want to know what he said, you’ll need to tune into the show. All I know is after hearing that speech, I’d run through a wall for that man and make damn sure I didn’t fumble while doing it.
It’s now very easy to see why the players like suiting up for KOC on Sunday’s. After tuning into “Receiver,” I can’t wait for 2024.
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