The 2025 season turned out to be a concerning hit for the Minnesota Vikings. After lagging behind the playoff chances with a 9-8 record, the team also lost almost 6 of its coaches amid promotions. While Kevin O’Connell continues to do everything possible to refill key positions, it has become increasingly important for him to identify where the real problems lie. Several analysts have suggested sweeping changes (even questioning the head coaching role), but wide receiver Justin Jefferson seems confident he knows the real issue. Here’s how the Super Bowl plan looks, according to Jefferson.

“The number one thing is obviously the quarterback position,” Jefferson told Jason Harmon. “I mean, that’s the king piece or the queen piece of the whole chess match. We need that one position to carry our team and to carry our offense to where we would like to go. Obviously, I can’t control defense because that’s not my side of the ball. But just having a great defense to stop, obviously, other people’s offense, and us being able to score and us being able to move the ball is the main objective.”

The 2025 season saw J.J. McCarthy pass for 1,632 yards, along with throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games. He completed about 57.6 % of his passes and had a passer rating of around 72.6.

These numbers ranked near the bottom among NFL starting quarterbacks. His QBR was only about 35.7, underscoring the need for a better QB, as Jefferson has called for. McCarthy also lost time to injuries and had accuracy issues, further limiting his consistency. He sprained his right ankle in Week 2 and was out for the next five games (Weeks 3–7). He managed to make a comeback in Week 9 but later suffered a concussion in Week 12 vs. the Packers, which caused him to miss the Week 13 game. Week 16 vs. the Giants saw another setback as he injured his right hand with a hairline fracture and missed Week 17 against Detroit.

The concerns highlighted by Jefferson also included a mention of the efforts required on the defensive side of things. They allowed 333 total points (19.6 per game), which ranked about 7th-best in the NFL for fewest points allowed. However, they also gave up 3,208 passing yards and 2,110 rushing yards overall. Their total defense ranked around mid-pack in yards allowed compared to other teams. The run defense was weaker, allowing an average of 124.1 rushing yards per game, marking a concerning 21st rank in the league.

The numbers clearly show that the issues highlighted by the wide receiver are real. However, the bigger question remains whether those problems can actually be resolved. Jefferson’s comments also confirmed his commitment to the franchise, a point he pressed by dismissing recent trade rumors linking him to the Buffalo Bills.

Justin Jefferson turns down trade rumors with a bold verdict against the Bills Mafia

Trade talk around Justin Jefferson has picked up again, but the Vikings star is not buying into it. Fans recently pushed him for a move to the Buffalo Bills, but Jefferson addressed the noise directly during an appearance on Up & Adams with Kay Adams. Jefferson acknowledged hearing from Bills Mafia, which emerged from his past connection with new Bills head coach Joe Brady (from their title run at LSU in 2019). The 26-year-old made it clear his focus remains on playing for the Minnesota Vikings, squashing the rumors of a possible trade.

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“I’ve been hearing a couple (Bills) Mafia fans talking a little bit here and there, but I’m a Viking,” Jefferson told Adams. “I’m gonna say I keep it cold in Minnesota.”

The WR further highlighted the reason behind not acknowledging the issue across social media channels.

“Yeah, I’m going to let it happen, and I don’t need to show it either. I’m not going to be posting it on Instagram or social media,” he added. “That’s not my decision. I don’t care who’s throwing me that ball. That’s not my main priority, and I’ve said that multiple times. I don’t really care who’s going to be throwing that ball.”

Jefferson’s loyalty comes despite a difficult 2025 season for Minnesota. He has topped 1,000 yards in every season of his career, including 1,074 yards in just 10 games in 2023. He thrived for years with Kirk Cousins and stayed productive in 2024 with Sam Darnold. However, after Darnold’s move to the Seahawks, Minnesota turned to J.J. McCarthy, and the offense saw a deceleration. Jefferson finished with 84 catches, 1,048 yards, and two touchdowns, marking his lowest across the board. However, despite the troubles, he shares a mutual faith with the team, with a dedication to go for a strong Super Bowl run in the upcoming season.