EAGAN, Minn. — With Justin Jefferson’s massive contract extension with the Minnesota Vikings now completed, he’s got another goal in mind.
“Of course I want to be holding that gold jacket … when my career is all over with,” Jefferson said during a news conference about the deal on Tuesday. “I want to be the best player to ever do it.”
Justin Jefferson
WCCO
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He’s well on his way there. No wide receiver in NFL history compiled more yards through his first four seasons than Jefferson’s 5,899. He also has more yards per game (98.3) than any other receiver, averaging 12 more than second-place Calvin Johnson. Throw in an Offensive Player of the Year award, three All-Pro nods and a top-five finish in MVP voting and it’s not hard to justify the Vikings giving him “the highest contract for a non-QB in NFL history,” according to them.
“I truly think he’s one of the brightest stars in all of professional sports,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said, adding Jefferson has had one of the “more remarkable starts to a career that our game has really seen, especially at the receiver position.”
The Vikings haven’t released the exact numbers behind Jefferson’s deal, but said it’s a four-year extension, which would keep him in Minnesota through 2028. For the 24-year-old Jefferson, the massive money represents a step up in his status on the team.
“This is the start of a lot. This is something I’ve been waiting for and now being a leader of this team and carrying myself a different way,” he said. “I’m going to be on everyone butt, I’m going to be on everyone hard and I’m going to make sure that I’m the leader of this team and we’re working to where we want to go, which is a world championship.”
Jefferson will now have a new quarterback joining him on that quest. Whether it’s this year or down the line, rookie passer J.J. McCarthy is the future of the Vikings’ offense. Jefferson likes what he’s seen so far.
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“I talked to J.J. as soon as he got drafted, I told him confidence is key,” Jefferson said. “Of course having J.J. into the building, a new energy, a new soul, I love his confidence, I love his attitude and of course him coming off a championship, you can’t have any more confidence than that.”
Despite offseason rumors about trades and stalled negotiations, Jefferson and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah both said there was no doubt from either side about this deal getting done.
“Obviously we’ve had a pretty big offseason, but this day, this move was something that was foundational to everything we’re going to be as a team this season and going forward,” Adofo-Mensah said.
That “pretty big offseason” included a quarterback change, an overhaul of the defense and the addition of a new offensive weapon in former Green Bay Packer running back Aaron Jones. But Jefferson’s extension is by far the most important move the Vikings have made, and he knows it.
“I feel like we’re on a great path,” Jefferson said. “Just with locking me in for five more years. I’ve been telling all of them they’re going to get the best out of me, every single practice, every single game.”
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Anthony Bettin
Anthony Bettin is a web producer at CBS Minnesota. He primarily covers breaking news and sports, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings.
Federal prosecutorsannounce indictments against two Philadelphia men they say submitted up to $3.5 million in fake and inflated bills to Minnesota Medicaid programs, WCCO-TV reports. “Minnesota has become a magnet for fraud, so much so that we have developed a fraud tourism industry,” U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson said.
State Rep. Kristin Robbins alleges – without sharing a name or other evidence – that the Minnesota Department of Human Services paid state money to a Feeding Our Future defendant while they were awaiting trial, the Minnesota Reformer reports. Robbins, who chairs a legislative fraud oversight committee and is running for governor, says she has collected hundreds of whistleblower tips, but she has not shared them with the department’s inspector general.
The state has suspended or delayed payments to several social service providers as part of an effort to catch and prevent fraud, and now one of those providers says the crackdown had deadly consequences, KARE 11 reports. A service provider says a vulnerable adult client was found dead in his St. Paul apartment after the state froze payments that had been covering his care.
Rolling Stone writer Stephen Rodrick, who spent time with Melissa Hortman while covering Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz during the 2024 presidential campaign, writes about the life of the late Minnesota House Speaker in a 7,000-word profile based on interviews with dozens of family, friends and colleagues.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Temperatures dropping, snow and strong winds are set to come through the state Thursday.
Here’s what to expect for Thursday’s winter weather.
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What to expect for Thursday’s snow, dropping temps
What to expect:
A winter weather advisory is in place for parts of Minnesota, including the Twin Cities Thursday.
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A warm front overnight Wednesday will bring rain, then a cold front Thursday is expected to bring snow.
Temperatures are expected to drop significantly, which could cause slippery roads for the morning and evening commute.
There is also a blizzard warning for the far northwest of Minnesota Thursday.
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A wind advisory is in place for the southwest portion of the state on Thursday, which could bring wind speeds of up to 50 mph.
An inch or two of snow is expected, but road conditions will deteriorate throughout the day Thursday. As the cold front moves through the state late Thursday morning, winds could be 40–50 mph.
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Due to strong winds, any snow that falls could reduce viability when driving Thursday. Temperatures are expected to fall into single digits by the evening.
Extended forecast
What’s next:
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Friday could see a few flurries with temperatures in the low 20s. Saturday will have occasional passing clouds and highs in the upper 20s, while Sunday is cooler, but comes with more sunshine.
Temperatures warm back into the 30s for the start of next week.
The future location of the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) will be in the city of Inver Grove Heights.
The future location of the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame (MNHHOF) will be in the city of Inver Grove Heights.
In the announcement made on Wednesday, the MNHHOF said the new site will be a 120,000-plus-square-foot, multi-purpose facility located adjacent to Interstate 494 and just east of Vikings Lakes and the Minnesota Vikings training complex.
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“Since announcing this legacy project in August, the outpouring of support from players past and present, Minnesota-based companies, and hockey fans statewide has been overwhelming,” said MNHHOF CEO Natalie Darwitz. “We’re truly excited to build our permanent home in Inver Grove Heights, honoring the past and inspiring the future of Minnesota hockey.”
The current plans for the facility are to build it on a 40-acre section of land, featuring an ice rink, a 20,000-square-foot performance venue, a 30,000-square-foot museum, a hockey-themed restaurant and taproom and multiple event and community spaces.
“The City is thrilled that the Minnesota Hockey Hall of Fame has selected Inver Grove Heights as its home, and we look forward to welcoming them to our community,” said Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich. “The site is in our Northwest Area, which has long been envisioned for major development, and the Hall of Fame offers the opportunity for new amenities and attractions that will benefit Inver Grove Heights for years to come.”
MNHHOF plans to break ground in 2026, with a planned opening in late 2028.
