Justin Jefferson had one of the best seasons for a rookie wide receiver in NFL history, surpassing the record for yards received by a rookie in the Super Bowl era. Minnesota Vikings rookie also joined Randy Moss in elite territory, becoming the first rookie wideout since Moss to join the Associated Press’s All-Pro team as a wide receiver – Moss was the last wide receiver to join the All-Pro team as a newcomer to his position in 1998.
Jefferson and Moss are the only beginning wide receivers to make the All-Pro team in their position for the past 30 years. Tyreek Hill and Tyler Lockett were also part of the All-Pro team in their debut seasons, but came back. Louis Lipps was the last rookie wide receiver to join the All-Pro team before Moss, doing it in 1984.
Jefferson had a historic season for the Vikings, as his 1,400 receiving yards set the NFL record of most receiving yards by a player new to the Super Bowl era. Jefferson broke Anquan Boldin’s record of 1,377 yards established in 2003 (which Boldin did not make an All-Pro team that season), but was 73 yards below Bill Groman’s NFL record for receiving yards in a debut season (Groman had 1,473 yards for AFL Houston Oilers in 1960).
Jefferson ended his season with 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 15.91 yards per reception. Its 88 receptions are the sixth largest for a newcomer in NFL history and its 87.5 yards per game is the fifth most for a newcomer in league history. Jefferson finished fourth in the NFL in receiving yards (behind Stefon Diggs, Travis Kelce and DeAndre Hopkins), sixth in the league in yards per game and 11th in yards per reception.
Jefferson’s historic debut season ends with an All-Pro selection, following Moss’s path – who finished fourth in yards received and second in receiving touchdowns in NFL history. It is not a bad company to start a career.