Justin Jefferson isn’t one to mince words, and when he talks, people listen - especially when the topic is someone who helped launch his career. The Minnesota Vikings star wideout recently shared his thoughts on Joe Brady’s promotion to head coach of the Buffalo Bills, and let’s just say, the respect runs deep.
Brady, who replaces Sean McDermott after Buffalo’s surprising Divisional Round exit at the hands of the Denver Broncos, is no stranger to Jefferson. The two go way back to LSU’s historic 2019 national championship run.
That Tigers offense - led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Jefferson - was one of the most explosive in college football history. And Brady, then LSU’s passing game coordinator, was a key architect behind it all.
Speaking on the Sports Seriously podcast, Jefferson didn’t hold back in praising his former coach.
“He’s already been doing a phenomenal job behind the scenes. Of course, the TV crew will show him in the box calling the plays and stuff…He’s a great coach,” Jefferson said. “Having him as my offensive coordinator my 2019 year, we had so much fun together just building and working on our craft.”
That 2019 season was more than just fun - it was transformative. Jefferson credits Brady for helping him become a first-round pick, saying, “I feel like he was mostly the reason why I got picked first round… So, it’s a blessing - it’s honestly just crazy to see the change over the past six years.”
Now, Jefferson is watching Brady take the reins in Buffalo, and he’s excited to see what comes next - especially with Josh Allen under center.
“I’m happy for him, I’m happy to see the different things he’ll do, especially, of course, with Josh Allen at quarterback. I’m excited to see how he carries that team.”
That kind of public endorsement from a player of Jefferson’s caliber is bound to raise eyebrows - and it has. Fans are already connecting the dots, wondering if a reunion in Buffalo might be in the cards down the line. After all, Jefferson’s situation in Minnesota is murky at best.
The Vikings just fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, leaving a leadership vacuum at the top. Their quarterback situation is unsettled, to put it mildly.
Second-year QB JJ McCarthy struggled through injuries and inconsistent play, and the revolving door under center - which also included Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer - didn’t do Jefferson any favors. That trio combined for 17 touchdowns and 21 interceptions on the year, and the offense sputtered because of it.
Jefferson still managed to haul in 84 catches for 1,048 yards, but only found the end zone twice - a quiet year by his standards. For a player who’s already established himself among the league’s elite, that kind of production speaks more to the chaos around him than any dip in his own performance.
The Vikings, who won 14 games just a season ago, stumbled to a 9-8 record and missed the playoffs. And while Jefferson hasn’t publicly asked for a trade, it’s hard to ignore the writing on the wall. Minnesota has had six seasons to build a consistent winner around him - and they still haven’t won a single playoff game since drafting him in 2020.
So yeah, fans dreaming of a Jefferson-Brady reunion in Buffalo aren’t exactly pulling it out of thin air. The connection is real, the respect is mutual, and the situation in Minnesota feels increasingly unstable.
For now, Jefferson remains a Viking. But if things don’t turn around - and fast - don’t be surprised if those whispers about a fresh start somewhere else start getting a whole lot louder.