JuJu Smith-Schuster Bio
John Sherman Smith-Schuster, known professionally as JuJu Smith-Schuster, is an American professional football wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). After starring at Long Beach Polytechnic High School and the University of Southern California, he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has since played for the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, and most recently signed with the New York Giants.
Smith-Schuster earned second-team All-American honors in 2015 with the USC Trojans and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2018. With the Chiefs, he won Super Bowl LVII following the 2022 season. He also holds several NFL records, including being the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards, and is widely known for his social media presence.
Early Life and Background
Smith-Schuster was born on November 22, 1996, in Long Beach, California. He is of African-American and Samoan descent and was raised in Long Beach alongside his siblings as the second-eldest of seven children. He grew up a Christian and grew up cheering for USC, where he later starred as a collegian.
He began playing football at the age of eight and was coached in his youth by rapper Snoop Dogg through the Snoop Youth Football League. Snoop gave him the nickname “Sportscenter,” telling him that he believed his highlights would one day appear on the flagship ESPN show. He later attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, which at the time held the record for sending the most football players to the NFL of any high school in the United States.
A nickname from his aunt gave him the name “JuJu,” which he began using in football program listings in 2012. After turning 18, he legally hyphenated his last name from “Smith” to “Smith-Schuster” in honor of his stepfather, Lawrence Schuster. At Long Beach Poly, he played wide receiver and safety and was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, ranking as the second-best wide receiver and 24th-best overall player in his class.
Path to American Football
Smith-Schuster initially committed to play college football at Oregon before reversing course and announcing on television that he would attend the University of Southern California. He signed with USC under then-head coach Steve Sarkisian and enrolled at the school, where he would develop into one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country.
He earned immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2014, recording four receptions for 123 yards in his first career game against Fresno State. By his sophomore season in 2015, he had become a featured contributor, leading the Trojans with 89 receptions for 1,454 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns while earning second-team All-American honors.
As a junior in 2016, Smith-Schuster helped lead the Trojans to a Rose Bowl victory over Penn State, catching seven passes for 133 yards and a receiving touchdown. Following that season, he announced on Twitter that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL draft, later signing with sports agency Roc Nation.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Career
Early Career (2017)
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Smith-Schuster in the second round, 62nd overall, of the 2017 NFL draft. He was the youngest player selected in the 2017 draft and signed a four-year rookie contract with the Steelers. He entered training camp competing for a depth-chart spot at wide receiver behind established veterans.
He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Cleveland Browns and was credited with his first career start as a kick returner. By Week 2, he had recorded his first career reception and first touchdown on a four-yard pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. By Week 7, he had become the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns before the age of 21, and he finished his rookie season with 58 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns, earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors.
NFL Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Smith-Schuster entered his second NFL season as a starting wide receiver alongside Antonio Brown and quickly became a focal point of the Pittsburgh passing game. In a 2018 matchup with the Denver Broncos, he became the first player in NFL history to have two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. He finished the 2018 season with a team-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, ranking fifth in the NFL in receiving yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection as an alternate.
Following the trade of Antonio Brown, Smith-Schuster became the Steelers’ number one wide receiver heading into 2019. He passed Randy Moss during that season as the youngest wide receiver in NFL history to reach 2,500 receiving yards. A combination of a concussion and a knee injury limited him to just 11 games, and he finished 2019 with career lows of 42 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns.
Return to Form (2020–2021)
Smith-Schuster rebounded in 2020, his contract year with the Steelers, catching 97 passes for 831 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns while operating primarily out of the slot. He recorded a 25-yard game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 and added 13 catches for 157 yards and a touchdown in a Wild Card Round playoff loss to the Cleveland Browns.
He re-signed with Pittsburgh on a one-year contract in March 2021. A severe shoulder injury suffered in Week 5 against the Denver Broncos forced him onto injured reserve, but he was activated in time for the Wild Card Round. In that playoff game, a 42–21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, he recorded five receptions for 26 yards.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2022–Present)
Smith-Schuster signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 20, 2022, on a one-year contract. He finished the 2022 regular season with 78 receptions for 933 receiving yards and three touchdowns. In Super Bowl LVII, a 38–35 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught seven passes for 53 yards and drew a pivotal holding penalty on third down that helped set up the game-winning field goal.
After a one-season stint with the New England Patriots in 2023, he returned to the Chiefs in August 2024. He finished the 2024 season with 18 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns, then re-signed with Kansas City in March 2025 on a one-year deal. In June 2026, he signed with the New York Giants.
Driving Style and Strengths
Smith-Schuster has built his game on physicality, strong hands, and versatility out of the slot. He has shown the ability to produce after the catch and to win contested throws, particularly on intermediate routes. His rapport with quarterbacks throughout his career has helped him post multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons and earn recognition as a reliable chain mover.
Notable Events and Milestones
Smith-Schuster became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 2,500 career receiving yards and the first player with two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. He also set a Steelers franchise record with a 97-yard touchdown reception in 2017 and later drew a famous holding penalty in the closing moments of Super Bowl LVII that helped secure a Chiefs championship.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Smith-Schuster has accumulated more than 5,600 receiving yards and 35 total touchdowns, with one Super Bowl championship to his name. He has posted multiple 1,000-yard seasons and been a consistent contributor in the passing game for every team he has represented.
Season Highlights
Smith-Schuster’s most productive season came in 2018, when he posted 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. He has since continued to produce in complementary roles, including a Super Bowl-winning 2022 campaign with the Chiefs and a bounce-back 2020 season in which he set a career high with nine receiving touchdowns.
Other Performances
Smith-Schuster earned second-team All-American honors in 2015 at USC and was a two-time Polynesian Pro Football Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018. He also helped the Trojans win the 2017 Rose Bowl, recording seven receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Penn State.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Smith-Schuster was raised in Long Beach, California, as the second-eldest of seven children. His cousin, Johnny Nansen, formerly served as an assistant coach at USC, giving the family a connection to the Trojans program before Smith-Schuster ever enrolled.
Personal Life
Smith-Schuster is of African-American and Samoan descent and identifies as a Christian. His stepfather, Lawrence Schuster, was introduced to his mother, Sammy, when Smith-Schuster was four years old, and he later took the Schuster name as his own after turning 18. Off the field, he is widely known for his social media presence on TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch, and he owns a French bulldog named Boujee.
2025 Season Performance
Smith-Schuster returned to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2025 after re-signing with the team in March on a one-year contract. He finished the regular season with 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown while serving in a complementary role within the Kansas City passing attack.
A notable moment came in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions, when an on-field scuffle broke out after he attempted to shake hands with Detroit safety Brian Branch, who responded with a punch. Despite the brief altercation, the Chiefs secured the victory and continued their push through the season.
Following the 2025 campaign, Smith-Schuster’s contract with the Chiefs concluded, and he went on to sign with the New York Giants in June 2026. His veteran experience and Super Bowl pedigree are expected to add leadership to a Giants receiving corps looking to develop young talent.
