Jaxon Smith-Njigba #11 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates a 29-13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
With a Super Bowl title and a string of individual honors already to his name, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s championship season marks a rapid ascent for the young receiver and a defining moment in the Seahawks’ resurgence as one of the National Football League (NFL’s) top teams.
Sierra Leone-American wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba capped a historic season by helping the Seattle Seahawks secure their second Lombardi Trophy with a 29–13 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX, cementing his place among the NFL’s elite.
The Seahawks, dominant throughout the 2025 campaign, controlled Sunday’s championship game to seal the franchise’s first Super Bowl title since 2014. Although Smith-Njigba was limited to four catches for 27 yards in the final, his record-setting regular season was widely credited with powering Seattle’s run to the title.
The 23-year-old became just the second player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving, win the Associated Press (AP) Offensive Player of the Year award and capture a Super Bowl championship in the same season. The only other player to achieve the feat was his Seahawks teammate Cooper Kupp in 2021.
After the win, Smith-Njigba said the team’s belief had been constant throughout the season.
“We had to put the work in… but we all felt this was meant to be,” Smith-Njigba told NFL Media. “And it’s nothing without going and chasing it. And it’s just an unbelievable moment. I’m super proud of my guys, they’re so deserving.”
Smith-Njigba led the league in 2025 with 119 receptions for 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season, adding 17 catches for 199 yards and two scores in the playoffs. His yardage total set a new Seahawks franchise record and earned him First-Team All-Pro honors.
Drafted by Seattle with the 20th overall pick in the first round in 2023, Smith-Njigba has quickly emerged as one of the league’s most productive receivers. He is the eighth player in NFL history to record at least 150 receptions, 1,700 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns before his 23rd birthday.
His breakout began in 2024, when he tied a franchise record with 100 receptions and posted career highs with 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns. That season included a 180-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Los Angeles Rams and a 12-catch game against New England, helping establish him as a focal point of Seattle’s offense.
As a rookie in 2023, his 63 receptions were the second-most by a first-year player in franchise history. He also became the only rookie since 1960 to record two game-winning touchdown catches in the final minute of the fourth quarter.
Before entering the NFL, Smith-Njigba starred at Ohio State, where he set school and conference records during a standout 2021 season. He finished his college career with 110 receptions for 1,698 yards and 10 touchdowns, highlighted by a record 347 receiving yards in the Rose Bowl.