Like when they drafted Randy Moss in 1998, the Minnesota Vikings have significantly benefitted from drafting Justin Jefferson. The All-Pro wide receiver has been stellar thus far in his NFL career, and that might be underselling it. Jefferson has amazed fans around the league with his abilities and absurd numbers. The former LSU standout continued that trend in the Thursday Night Football opener on Amazon Prime.
Jefferson set a new bar during the Vikings’ matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles. He became the second receiver in NFL history to reach 5,000 receiving yards before he turned 25 years old. The other receiver to achieve this feat was Moss, putting him in elite company. But Jefferson also put himself in elite company… for another team. That other team? None other than the Vikings’ longtime NFC North rival: the Chicago Bears.
“Justin Jefferson is just 24 years old and has more career receiving yards than any Chicago Bears receiving in the team’s history. All 100+ years of it,” Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus posted Thursday night.
Justin Jefferson is just 24 years old and now has more career receiving yards than any Chicago Bears receiver in the team's history. All 100+ years of it.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) September 15, 2023
The stat might shock you at first, but it’s true. According to Pro Football Reference, Johnny Morris is the Bears’ all-time leading receiver. Listed as a flanker (FL), Morris played for Chicago from 1958-1967. Through 121 games, Morris recorded 5,059 career receiving yards. From 1954-1961, Harlon Hill amassed 4,616 yards.
The only receiver who’s approached the mark in the modern NFL? Alshon Jeffery, who totaled 4,549 receiving yards from 2012-2016.
Entering the game Thursday, Justin Jefferson had 4,975 career receiving yards in 51 career games. In his 52nd game, Jefferson racked up 159 yards against the Eagles. That propelled his career receiving yards total to 5,134 yards, well ahead of Morris’ 5,059 yards.
As if Chicago fans haven’t had it bad enough recently, now their team records are being taken by other teams’ players. Worse over, it’s from a rival.
The NFL world had plenty to say about Justin Jefferson and this absurd new bar set.
Update: Justin Jefferson did it.
At age 24, only 52 games played, he already has more career receiving yards than any #Bears player had in their entire franchise history.
Jefferson currently had 93 yards on 7 catches against the #Eagles https://t.co/K8LTqTrirV pic.twitter.com/x2szF6imHQ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 15, 2023
Look away Bears fans 😬
Justin Jefferson is unreal pic.twitter.com/Xk4pYjZoeB
— PFF (@PFF) September 15, 2023
Justin Jefferson now has more career receiving yards than the Bears all-time leading receiver.
He is 24.
— Janik Eckardt (@JanikEckardt) September 15, 2023
I’ll never forgive the Eagles for drafting Jalen Reagor and allowing the Vikings to get Justin Jefferson. https://t.co/tFpL1Nl0MV
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 15, 2023
Can sadly confirm.
Justin Jefferson: 5,104 career receiving yards
Bears career leader Johnny Morris: 5,059 https://t.co/qqcBu3umUS pic.twitter.com/bu6cfKwVz3— Jack M Silverstein (@readjack) September 15, 2023
Is this more impressive from a Justin Jefferson point of view or sad from a Bears point of view? #DumbDebates https://t.co/DM0BV9NBxM
— Josh Peterson (@joshtweeterson) September 15, 2023
Justin Jefferson having more receiving yards than any Bears receiver ever amazes me pic.twitter.com/XkLFGHrY5B
— Thomas Setter (@Tom_Setter) September 15, 2023
Justin Jefferson with 129 yards tonight has more career receiving yards than every single Bears leading receiver in their entire history
insane 😂 pic.twitter.com/aDAGlrHzFI
— Wheelz (@WheelzFL) September 15, 2023
Since Jefferson is only 24 years old, expect that total to swell even more as the years go by. Heck, even after this season, as he’s already had back-to-back 100-yard performances to open the 2023 campaign.
