The Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year was announced last Thursday and the award was given to Justin Jefferson. This is a historic moment as Jefferson is only the fifth wide receiver to ever win the award. The competition was tough with the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, the two Super Bowl quarterbacks, and Tyreek Hill, an electric receiver himself, also being top vote-getters.
In a ranked-choice voting system, Jefferson received 35 first-place votes and 192 points, putting him ahead of Mahomes who came in second place with 10 first-place votes and 75 points. This victory is a huge accomplishment for Jefferson and he joins the ranks of three Vikings players who have won the award in the past, including Fran Tarkenton (1975) and Adrian Peterson (2012).
The road to victory for Jefferson was not an easy one. He was an unheralded recruit from Destrehan High School in Louisiana and was always doubted. However, he always had a chip on his shoulder and worked hard to prove everyone wrong. His hard work paid off as he had a vaunted third season with the Vikings that even earned him votes for the Most Valuable Player award.
In the NFL Honors ceremony, Jefferson’s one-handed, fourth-and-18 catch late in the Vikings’ 33-30 overtime win over the Bills was named the “Best Moment of the Year”. This came as a surprise to Jefferson who wasn’t prepared for a second award. He thanked his first-year Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Kirk Cousins, who were also present at the event.
Jefferson played a key role in the Vikings’ pass-heavy offense, a style that was similar to the one that allowed Cooper Kupp to win the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year award with O’Connell and the Rams. His 128 receptions for 1,809 receiving yards made him a unanimous first-team All-Pro selection and at 23, he became the youngest player to lead the league in both statistical categories. This is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the hard work and dedication of Justin Jefferson.
