The NFC Championship game also delivered a standout WR duel, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua combining for 19 receptions, 318 yards and two touchdowns. Smith-Njigba’s clutch plays helped the Seattle Seahawks punch their ticket to the Super Bowl.
Jefferson, despite a quarterback shift, posted a 2025 season that included 84 catches for 1,048 yards and two scores, marking his sixth straight 1,000-yard campaign. He added that he has more receiving yards through six seasons than any player in NFL history, a record that even Rice acknowledges.
Minnesota’s 2025 campaign was affected by JJ McCarthy’s growing pains under center, resulting in a yardage figure that dipped from his 2023 performance despite playing 17 games. Jefferson, a two-time All-Pro, publicly supported his quarterback while continuing to operate at a high level for the Vikings, who cannot afford to squander his prime.
In naming Jefferson over Ja’Marr Chase—who finished with 1,412 yards and was a first-team All-Pro—Rice underscored the Vikings star’s all-around impact. Jefferson’s combination of field-stretching ability, contested catches and production remains central to the debate over the league’s best wide receiver.
Rice’s longstanding status as one of the game’s greatest players adds weight to his verdict, and his endorsement comes at a time when Jefferson’s place atop the position remains a point of discussion across the league. The NFC Championship weekend highlighted the depth and talent at wide receiver, with Jefferson continuing to be a central figure in the conversation.
