Justin Jefferson is leaving no doubts about his intentions of sticking around in Minneapolis for the foreseeable future.
The Vikings’ superstar spoke glowingly about their 2024 season and the foundation they’ve built in their exit interviews.
Justin Jefferson Reassures Vikings Fans He’s Here For the Long Haul, Keeps Mum on QB Situation
Jefferson spoke to Vikings media personnel during his last locker room interview of the season recently. He made sure to bolster Vikings fans’ morale, reiterating his intention to stay in Minnesota for the long haul:
“Yeah, I mean as a team, just what we have done and I feel like the foundation that we have started here, this year especially, is definitely something that we’ve got to keep for down the line, especially with me.”
Justin Jefferson is fully committed to the #Vikings, and is excited for the new team in 2025:
“I have a new contract, 3 or 4 more years on that contract. I’m locked in, it’s going to be here for those years. Just looking forward to what we have coming up.”
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“I have a new contract, three or four more years on that contract. So I’m locked in and I’m gonna be here for those years. So (I’m) just looking forward to what we have. Looking forward to the new team that we’re gonna have.”
Jefferson was also asked about his thoughts on their QB situation for 2025. 2024 starting quarterback Sam Darnold put together an incredible season, tallying 4,315 yards and 35 touchdowns this past year.
The 25-year-old receiver refrained from making concrete statements, opting to leave the decision to the Vikings front office and coaching staff.
He brought up comparisons to the Kirk Cousins situation last year but made sure to keep his words neutral: “It’s the same type of situation last year, I didn’t know who was my quarterback, and I really didn’t care at the end of the day. I always say that I’m confident in myself to go out there and still perform the same way I’ve been performing.
“But it’s not my job to say who’s going to be the quarterback, who I want to be the quarterback. At the end of the day, they’re going to figure it out, and whoever they decide to go with we’re going to work with that.”
Darnold came up short in the Vikings’ two biggest games of the season. However, those performances do not take away from his rousing return to a starting role. The 27-year-old is among the top contenders for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
If Darnold sticks around in Minnesota for 2025, he will almost undoubtedly compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting QB role (or be the outright backup).