Everything You Need to Know About Jaxon Smith-Njigba

Sierra Leonean-American NFL player, Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks has won Super Bowl LXI. In addition to winning the Lombardi trophy, he’s the NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2025. 

Jaxon is a second-generation Sierra Leonean-American. His paternal grandfather, John, migrated to the U.S in the 70s.

He recorded 4 receptions on 10 targets for 27 yards in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. 

Known by fans as JSN, Jaxon comes from an athletic family. His father played collegiate football, and his brother Canaan plays for the Pirates in Major League Baseball (MLB). The Smith-Njigba family is originally from Heath, Texas. 

He has emerged as one of the top NFL wide receivers and a major reason why Seattle made it to the Super Bowl. 

Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Sierra Leonean Heritage

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (middle) with his parents, Jami Smith (left) and Maada Smith Njigba (right)

Jaxon has consistently highlighted his Sierra Leonean roots throughout his football journey. His mother, Jami Smith, is American. 

This multicultural background has played a role in shaping Jaxon’s character and outlook.

During the NFL Draft process, he publicly spoke about his family’s heritage, drawing attention to his paternal lineage from Sierra Leone.

After the Seahawks booked their ticket to the Super Bowl, Jaxon shared a viral moment with his mom, Jami, on the field in Seattle. 

Since entering the NFL, Jaxon has repeatedly worn the Sierra Leone flag on his helmet, a visible tribute to his paternal home.

He has also discussed reclaiming his full surname ‘Smith-Njigba’ to honour his family history, and has openly and proudly shown his Sierra Leonean heritage through media interviews, social posts, and on-field gestures to reinforce that connection.

In 2024, Smith-Njigba visited Sierra Leone, where he explored the country and connected with his people. 

A Career That Led to the NFL’s Biggest Stage

Image: Jaxon Smith-Njigba with the NFL trophy

Jaxon rose to national prominence at Ohio State University, where he set multiple receiving records and established himself as one of college football’s most technically refined wide receivers. 

Drafted into the NFL as a top offensive prospect, he developed rapidly into a central figure in Seattle’s passing attack.

On November 25, 2025, Jaxon was named the NFL African Player of the Week by ESPN.

In the first round of the 2023 NFL draft, Jaxon was selected 20th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

In his second season, he became a starter, accumulating 1,130 receiving yards and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. 

In the 2025 season, he set a Seahawks franchise record with a league-leading 1,793 receiving yards on 119 receptions, earning him Offensive Player of the Year honours. 

What the Victory Means for Sierra Leone and the African Diaspora

Image: Gibril Wilson

In 2008, Gibril Wilson, a former safety in the NFL, born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, won Super Bowl XLII with the New York Giants in the 2007 season.

Gibril was born in Sierra Leone, moved to the U.S. as a child, and earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, the same championship where the Giants famously defeated the New England Patriots. 

Jason Smith-Njigba’s Super Bowl LX win comes 18 years after Wilson’s; he becomes the next NFL player with Sierra Leonean roots to lift the Lombardi Trophy.