Van Jefferson Bio
Vanchi LaShawn Jefferson Jr., widely known as Van Jefferson, is an American professional football wide receiver currently playing in the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 26, 1996, in Brentwood, Tennessee, Jefferson has built a steady career as a reliable pass catcher since entering the league in 2020. He played college football for the Ole Miss Rebels and the Florida Gators before being selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Across his career he has played for the Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans, earning a Super Bowl championship ring during the 2021 season. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing around 200 pounds, Jefferson is known for his route running, dependable hands, and experience in high-pressure games.
Early Life and Background
Vanchi LaShawn Jefferson Jr. was born on July 26, 1996, in Brentwood, Tennessee, and grew up in a household deeply connected to professional football. His father, Shawn Jefferson, enjoyed a long career as an NFL wide receiver, and that family background gave Van early exposure to the demands and rhythms of the sport. Jefferson attended Ravenwood High School in Brentwood, where he developed into one of the top receiver prospects in the state of Tennessee.
As a junior at Ravenwood, Jefferson caught 87 passes for 1,251 yards and 14 touchdowns, announcing himself as a playmaker on the high school circuit. During his senior year, he was named first team All-State after recording 67 receptions for 1,223 yards and 13 touchdowns. He initially committed to play college football at the University of Georgia, but he de-committed in January of his senior year and flipped his commitment to Ole Miss, choosing the Rebels over scholarship offers from Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.
Path to Professional Football
Jefferson arrived at Ole Miss in 2015 and redshirted his true freshman season, saving a year of eligibility while learning the college game. In 2016, as a redshirt freshman, he posted 49 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns, showing he could handle a featured role in the Rebel offense. He finished his redshirt sophomore campaign in 2017 with 42 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown, demonstrating steady production even as the program faced uncertainty.
Following the 2017 season, Jefferson announced his intent to transfer from Ole Miss after the program was sanctioned by the NCAA, ultimately choosing to continue his collegiate career at the University of Florida. He was granted immediate eligibility to play for the Gators after receiving waivers from the NCAA and the Southeastern Conference. In his first season at Florida in 2018, Jefferson led the team with 35 receptions, 503 receiving yards, and six touchdown catches. As a senior in 2019, he caught 49 passes for 657 yards and six touchdowns, including a strong performance of six catches for 129 yards against Virginia in the 2019 Orange Bowl. He closed his college career with 175 receptions for 2,159 yards and 16 touchdowns in 45 games played.
Van Jefferson Career
Los Angeles Rams Era (2020–2023)
Jefferson was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the second round with the 57th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, a pick the Rams acquired after trading wide receiver Brandin Cooks to the Houston Texans. As a rookie, he worked his way into the offense and recorded his first professional receiving touchdown in Week 11 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In the Divisional Round of the playoffs against the Green Bay Packers, Jefferson posted six catches for 46 yards and his first postseason touchdown during a 32–18 loss.
The 2021 season marked a major step forward for Jefferson as he played under new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and stepped into a larger role after a season-ending injury to teammate Robert Woods. He finished the regular season with 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns, helping power the Rams offense deep into January. Jefferson became a Super Bowl champion when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI, recording four catches for 23 yards in the title game.
Jefferson’s 2022 campaign was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on September 24, 2022. He was designated to return on October 24, 2022, and was activated for Week 8. Later that season, on December 8, 2022, he caught the game winning touchdown pass from newly signed quarterback Baker Mayfield to lift the Rams past the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2023, Jefferson opened the year as the Rams’ number one receiver while Cooper Kupp recovered from injury, but the rapid rise of rookie Puka Nacua limited his role, and he played only two snaps in Week 5 against Philadelphia without recording a catch.
Atlanta Falcons (2023)
On October 10, 2023, Jefferson was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in a swap of late round picks for the 2025 draft. He appeared in 12 games for Atlanta and finished with 12 receptions for 101 yards. Jefferson saw only 27 percent of the offensive snaps in his Falcons debut, but his playing time increased to 49 percent and 71 percent in the following two weeks before settling at an average of 39 percent of offensive snaps for the rest of his time with the team.
Pittsburgh Steelers (2024)
On March 18, 2024, Jefferson signed a one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played a complementary role in the offense, finishing the regular season with 24 receptions for 276 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers went 10–7 and entered the playoffs as the number six seed in the AFC. During the wild card round, Jefferson caught one touchdown pass from Russell Wilson, though Pittsburgh fell 28–14 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Tennessee Titans (2025)
On March 14, 2025, Jefferson signed with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year, $2.5 million contract. He opened the preseason as a starter and the third wide receiver on the depth chart, highlighted by a three catch, 102 yard, one touchdown performance in a 23–13 preseason victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Jefferson began the regular season as the fourth wide receiver behind rookie Elic Ayomanor and finished with 29 catches for 350 yards and one touchdown across 16 games, including seven starts. On January 3, 2026, he was placed on season ending injured reserve because of a forearm injury.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jefferson is a precise route runner with a strong understanding of timing concepts in modern spread offenses. His combination of size, reliable hands, and experience in playoff football makes him a dependable possession receiver. He has shown the ability to step into larger roles when needed, particularly during the Rams’ Super Bowl run in 2021.
Notable Events and Milestones
Jefferson’s signature moment came in Super Bowl LVI, where he helped the Rams defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 and earned a championship ring. He also produced one of the more memorable plays of the 2022 season when he caught the game winning touchdown from Baker Mayfield against the Las Vegas Raiders. Reaching the postseason in each of his first three NFL seasons stands as another clear milestone early in his career.
Van Jefferson Career Statistics
Through the 2025 NFL season, Jefferson has compiled 166 receptions for 2,226 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns across his time with the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Tennessee Titans. He has added postseason production as well, including a touchdown catch in a wild card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. His most productive season came in 2021, when he posted 50 receptions for 802 yards and six touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl title with the Rams.
Regular Season Highlights
Jefferson’s strongest regular season output arrived in 2021 with the Rams, when he set career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns on the way to a championship. He has since bounced between starting and reserve roles, finishing 2024 with 24 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh and 2025 with 29 catches for 350 yards and one touchdown in Tennessee.
Postseason Highlights
In the postseason, Jefferson owns a Super Bowl LVI ring from the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals and a touchdown catch in the Steelers’ 2024 wild card loss to the Baltimore Ravens. His first playoff score came during the 2020 Divisional Round against the Green Bay Packers.
Van Jefferson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Jefferson is the son of former NFL wide receiver Shawn Jefferson, whose lengthy professional career gave Van a front row view of life in the league. Growing up around the sport helped shape his work ethic and his understanding of route running and preparation. That family connection remains one of the defining influences on his approach to the game.
Personal Life
Jefferson is married to Samaria Jefferson, and the couple has four children, including three sons and a daughter. His second son was born while Jefferson was playing in Super Bowl LVI, a memorable overlap of family life and championship football. He continues to balance his professional career with his growing family.
Van Jefferson 2025 Season Performance
Jefferson’s 2025 campaign with the Tennessee Titans was a year of transition, beginning with a one-year, $2.5 million contract signed on March 14, 2025. He opened the preseason as a starter but slid to the fourth wide receiver spot once the regular season began, behind rookie Elic Ayomanor on the depth chart. Across 16 games and seven starts, he finished with 29 receptions for 350 yards and one touchdown, offering dependable possession production in a reserve role.
The season ended on a difficult note when Jefferson was placed on season ending injured reserve on January 3, 2026, because of a forearm injury. Despite the injury, his preseason flashes, including a 102 yard, one touchdown performance against the Minnesota Vikings, suggested he still had the burst and separation skills to contribute when called upon. Heading into 2026, his veteran experience and championship pedigree should keep him firmly in the mix for an offensive role.
