After signing a massive contract extension last summer that made among the highest paid players in the NFL, Justin Jefferson was voted a team captain by his teammates on the Vikings. What did the standout receiver learn about himself stepping into that position?

“He’s a tremendous talent, tremendous leader, but his leadership really shows up when he’s here,” said McCarthy, who accompanied Jefferson to a Timberwolves playoff game last month when they sat together in courtside seats. “Just being able to get that chemistry building on and off the field has been invaluable.”

Jefferson is coming off his fifth straight 1,000-yard season. The NFL leader in receptions and receiving yards in 2022, he had a 103-1,533-10 line in 2024. However, Jefferson and the Vikings are breaking in a new quarterback, 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.