BREAKING: An Open Letter from Justin Jefferson to Ja’Marr Chase and the Entire LSU Tigers Community That Will Leave You Speechless
“From the Bayou to the Big Leagues, We’re Always Family.”
In a heartfelt and emotional open letter released today, Minnesota Vikings All-Pro wide receiver and LSU legend Justin Jefferson delivered a message that has the entire college football world standing still. Addressed to Ja’Marr Chase, the LSU Tigers family, and fans across Louisiana and beyond, Jefferson’s powerful words were more than just a reflection—they were a call to remember, to cherish, and to carry the legacy of a historic program forward with purpose and pride.
The letter, published on Jefferson’s social media and confirmed through his publicist, touches on everything: the brotherhood he forged with Chase, the unforgettable 2019 national championship run, the coaching staff, the LSU fans, and the deep cultural bond rooted in Baton Rouge.
Let’s break it down, because this isn’t just a letter. This is a love story to LSU football. And it will leave even the toughest fans reaching for tissues.
“You Were More Than a Teammate, You Were My Brother” – Jefferson to Chase
Jefferson opens with a direct note to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, his former teammate and co-star in one of the most dominant college offenses ever assembled.
“Ja’Marr, I’ve never said this publicly the way I should’ve. You weren’t just the other wideout opposite me. You were the one who made me better every day. You were my brother on and off the field. From 1-on-1s in practice to back-shoulder fades in Tiger Stadium, we built something unshakable.”
Jefferson recalls their chemistry, not just in touchdowns but in trust. The 2019 season—arguably the greatest single-season in college football history—was the crescendo of their shared grind, heartbreak, and belief.
“People saw the fireworks on Saturdays. What they didn’t see was the way we challenged each other Mondays through Fridays. You wanted to outdo me. I wanted to outdo you. But it was never ego—it was iron sharpening iron.”
Their bond, forged in Tiger blood, clearly extends beyond football. Jefferson’s words to Chase carry an older brother’s pride and reverence for a teammate who has since become a superstar in his own right.
“Coach O, You Believed in a Kid Nobody Wanted”
Jefferson turns his attention to Ed Orgeron, the man who gave him a chance when most programs barely gave him a look.
“Coach O, I’ll never forget what you told me in your office: ‘I don’t care what the stars say, I see the heart of a Tiger.’ That changed everything for me. You gave a skinny kid with something to prove the belief he never got from anyone else.”
Jefferson wasn’t a 5-star recruit. He didn’t arrive on campus with media hype or a guaranteed starting spot. But Orgeron saw the potential, and Jefferson made the most of it—catching 111 passes for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019 alone.
“You saw past the rankings and into the soul. That’s LSU, man. That’s why we fight harder. Because so many of us were overlooked before we were legendary.”
His words to Orgeron double as a thank-you to every coach and staff member who helped build LSU’s national title run. From wide receivers coach Mickey Joseph to then-passing game coordinator Joe Brady, Jefferson salutes them all.
“Death Valley Isn’t Just a Stadium—It’s a Spiritual Experience”
For Jefferson, Tiger Stadium isn’t just where he played. It’s where he became.
“Every time I stepped on that field, I felt 100,000 hearts beating with mine. The roar? It’s not just noise. It’s energy. It’s history. It’s ghosts of Billy Cannon and memories of Joe Burrow slinging touchdowns.”
He recounts the indescribable electricity of Saturday nights in Death Valley, the sea of purple and gold, and the deafening crowd that made Baton Rouge the most feared venue in college football.
“I can still feel the chills from that Florida game. The Ole Miss rivalry. The Bama battle. Every blade of grass in that stadium is sacred to me.”
The emotion Jefferson conveys isn’t nostalgia—it’s reverence. He credits the LSU fans with elevating his game and giving him an edge no other fanbase could replicate.
“We Weren’t Just a Team. We Were a Movement.”
Jefferson then reflects on the 2019 Tigers and what made that group so special. Joe Burrow. Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Grant Delpit. Patrick Queen. Derek Stingley Jr. Ja’Marr Chase.
“We weren’t just playing football. We were rewriting the script. We weren’t supposed to dominate the way we did. We just had something the world didn’t understand until it was too late.”
LSU’s 2019 team didn’t just go undefeated. They demolished everyone. They beat seven top-10 teams. They won every game by double digits, except one. They scored 726 points—the most in SEC history.
“Every time we stepped on the field, we had something to prove. And when we hoisted that trophy, it wasn’t just ours. It was for everyone who ever wore the purple and gold.”
“To the Young Tigers Coming Up—Protect the Legacy”
In perhaps the most powerful section of the letter, Jefferson speaks directly to the next generation of LSU players.
“If you wear those three letters on your chest, you’re carrying more than a jersey. You’re carrying a standard. A responsibility. Don’t chase stats—chase greatness. Chase legacy.”
He warns young athletes not to get lost in NIL deals or social media fame, reminding them that true greatness is built in the weight room, in the film room, and in the trenches of adversity.
“There will be critics. There will be setbacks. But if you keep your head down, stay true to who you are, and rep that Tiger blood with pride—you’ll write your own chapter in our story.”
“LSU Made Me. I’ll Rep the Purple and Gold Forever.”
Jefferson closes with a message to LSU fans everywhere—from Baton Rouge to Shreveport, from the Superdome to small-town watch parties.
“Thank you for believing in me before the world did. I’ll never forget the chants, the tailgates, the hugs, the signs with my name on them. LSU made me. And I’ll never stop repping y’all, no matter where this journey takes me.”
His final words? Pure chills.
“We are more than players. We are Tigers. Forever. Geaux Tigers.”
Reactions Pour In: Chase, Burrow, and the LSU Family Respond
As expected, the letter went viral instantly. Within minutes, Ja’Marr Chase reposted the letter, writing:
“Got me emotional fr. Love you 2x. LSU for life ”
Joe Burrow, now the Bengals’ QB and fellow LSU legend, responded with a tiger emoji and “Unforgettable times with unforgettable people.”
The official LSU Football account posted a tribute video featuring highlights of Jefferson’s career set to his voice reading the letter.
Fans, current players, and alumni flooded social media with praise, calling it the “best letter ever written by an athlete to their alma mater.”
Legacy Cemented, Letter Immortalized
Justin Jefferson didn’t need to say anything. His actions, both in college and the NFL, have already made him an LSU icon. But this letter? This was more than words.
It was a legacy check-in. A heartfelt thank-you. A reminder of what LSU football is all about.
In a sports world where loyalty sometimes feels fleeting, Jefferson’s message is rare. It’s authentic. It’s personal. And it’s deeply rooted in gratitude.
He’s a Viking on Sundays. But on Saturdays, he’s still that kid from St. Rose, Louisiana, making plays in Death Valley and repping the Tigers with every step.
Final Thought: The Letter That Will Echo Through Baton Rouge Forever
Some letters are meant to be read. Others are meant to be felt.
This one will be remembered.
And maybe, just maybe, 10 or 20 years from now, when another young receiver walks onto the LSU practice field dreaming big, a coach will hand him a copy of Justin Jefferson’s open letter and say: