Vikings' Justin Jefferson Reacts to Major Aaron Jones Announcement

Aaron Jones turned back the clock in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings. The star running back showed that he still has a lot left in him by posting career-high stats at 30 years of age. 

Coming off an injury-plagued season, Jones recorded his fourth 1000-rushing-yard season. His career-high 1,138 rushing yards were among the top 10 in the league. 

The former fifth-round pick also breached the 50-receptions mark for the third time in his career. He caught 50 passes for 408 receiving yards, scoring two receiving touchdowns.

On Tuesday, July 1, the NFL unveiled two of its Top 100 Players of 2025, and Aaron Jones made the cut at No. 98. Voted in by his fellow players, the veteran running back earned his fourth career appearance on the prestigious list. He was ranked No. 33 in 2020, No. 30 in 2021, and No. 64 in 2023 while with the Packers.

Four-time Pro Bowler Justin Jefferson was featured in the NFL's video celebrating Jones' achievement. The Vikings WR shared his feelings about playing alongside the former Pro Bowler. 

"Seeing him on the opposite, you know, side of the ball in Green Bay and seeing how athletic he is and seeing how difficult he is to go down. It definitely feels a lot better seeing him in purple and gold than the green and gold," Jefferson said.

The star wide receiver also revealed the one trait that makes Jones a delight to have on the team.

"He's not the biggest. He's not the strongest. He's not the fastest, but he can run that ball," he said. 

The Green Bay Packers drafted Jones at No. 182 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He made 85 starts for the Packers, charting 5,940 rushing yards for 45 touchdowns and posting 2,076 receiving yards for 272 receptions and 18 touchdowns in seven years. 

The Vikings signed Jones in March 2024 after the Packers released him after seven seasons. After an incredible season that saw him earn a spot in the NFL Top 100 rankings, Jones inked a two-year deal worth $20 million with the franchise. 

Running backs rarely show this level of improvement at this stage of their career. But Jones has done it against all odds. He would aim to put up even better numbers as J.J. McCarthy is set to take the QB mantle after missing his entire rookie season due to an injury.