Justin Jefferson Explains Why Odell Beckham Jr. is His Role Model in Video Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson clearly has great respect for New York Giants wideout (and fellow ex-LSU Tiger superstar) Odell Beckham Jr., based on his remarks to Taylor Rooks during Boardroom's September cover story.

During the interview, Rooks asked Jefferson which wide receiver he watched was the best showman. Jefferson responded as follows (14:25 mark).

"Odell. 100 percent. Odell was No. 1," Jefferson said.

"The swagger, his hair, from everybody dying the hair blonde, from the dance moves that he was doing, from the swag, obviously being in New York. He's the nationally televised person, of course, doing the things that he has doing. The one handers, all of those different things that kind of played the part. And he was a big time playmaker. And he was my brother coming from LSU, so it was just kind of a family tie in that aspect, and to see him doing the things that he has done in the league, it was just already topping it off. So, I mean, he's pretty much the most famous football player."

Beckham burst onto the NFL scene in 2014 and quickly became one of the league's most popular players thanks in part to his tremendous skills. He arguably had the best hands in football, as evidenced by the iconic one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys during his rookie year.

Over his first three seasons, Beckham averaged 96 catches, 1,374 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. He won Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and made the All-Pro Second Team in 2015 and 2016.

Beckham has still had his fair share of moments since then, although serious injuries have unfortunately sidelined him for long periods of time. Still, he's one of the most beloved pass-catchers in recent memory and is now authoring a great comeback story after making the Giants' 53-man roster following a year away from the game.

It's clear Beckham has served as a role model for Jefferson, who continued to talk about how much he reveres the Giant.

During the interview, Rooks said the following after Jefferson called him the most famous football player.

"Because he transcended in a lot of ways to your point," Rooks said. "The fashion he had, the hair, and similar to you, there's just parts about him that are a statement, like it is unique to being Odell."

"That's what makes him him," Jefferson answered.

"It's nothing that anybody can do to imitate that. 'Cause that's what makes him him. You try to imitate it as much as you can, from the swagger, just the vibes when you're around him, you can just feel the energy.

"He's infectious," Rooks said.

"Exactly," Jefferson noted. "You just want to smile when you're around him. You just want to be goofy and just want to be just have him as a friend. That's always something that I kind of looked at him as, but he's definitely that guy that kind of turned on that switch for me, and it's more than football, it's more of an entertainment. It's more of giving the fans what they want to see because that's what makes you more of a superstar. And it's a full package. You can't be a superstar by just balling on the field. You gotta be a superstar on and off the field. You gotta be that person that people want to put on TV, and you see, 'Oh, yeah, that's Justin Jefferson. He's hitting the Griddy.' That's something I've always kind of thought about, that I've always tried to center myself around, having that good image, having that superstar ability and having that entertainment piece as well. So it's a whole full circle."

Jefferson has made a major mark on the NFL in his own right, amassing 1,000-yard seasons in all six of his pro campaigns. He's a four-time All-Pro (two first teams, two second teams) who won AP Offensive Player of the Year honors as well.

Both Jefferson and Beckham start their seasons at home on Sunday. Jefferson and the Vikings will play the Green Bay Packers at 4:25 p.m. ET, and Beckham and the Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys for Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m.).