https://www.vikings.com/news/justin-jefferson-2026-youth-flag-football-camp

Justin Jefferson Provides Inspiration & Instruction at Youth Flag Football Camp

EAGAN, Minn. — Numerous young Vikings fans kept their eyes glued to Justin Jefferson as he demonstrated a drill, enamored by the star receiver.

Several of them wore oversized, polarized shades and colorful receiving gloves to match "Jets." A few even arrived wearing faux chains that mimicked Jefferson's.

"It's really a surreal moment, just circling back and thinking about the times when I was a little kid and attended these types of camps," Jefferson told Vikings.com. "I had the Ed Reed camp growing up; now being the centerpiece of one, being the player these kids are coming to see and learn from, it is really cool. For real."

Jefferson hosted his annual youth flag football camp at TCO Stadium Saturday, where boys and girls were guided by the Vikings WR, as well as local Twin Cities high school, college and YMCA coaches, through a variety of position drills and skill sets.

Early in the day, Jefferson helped some of the youngest participants work through the running back station, where he showed them how to shuffle through an agility course and then spin around a football dummy.

Jefferson enthusiastically encouraged the campers and, if someone struggled with the drill, he provided 1-on-1 instruction.

He partnered with Hard Count Athletics, an organization that's been helping Jefferson put on the camp since his rookie season in Minnesota.

Hard Count CEO Greg Williams noted the way Jefferson's comfort level and confidence with leading young people has grown exponentially over the years.

"This is awesome to see," Williams said. "And it's very important because kids are the future, and having a superstar of Justin's caliber be out here to show them drills, actually engage and interact with them, you don't always see NFL players as involved as Justin is.

"He's active throughout the entire camp; he's gonna be sweaty," Williams laughed. "But he definitely loves to do it, and it's a great thing for kids to see that and be able to work with him."

Jefferson emphasized he doesn't take for granted families spending money to send their children to his camps, and he's intentional about delivering a memorable experience. Having attended the same high school as Reed, a Hall of Fame safety, Jefferson looked up to him from an early age and understands how impactful a touchpoint with an NFL player can be.

"I want to interact with them as much as possible, answer their questions, so they can really feel that moment," he said. "You never know, this could be their only opportunity in-person with me, so all that stuff goes through my mind and allows me to have a better experience with these kids."

Jefferson is also grateful to see the uptick of young girls registering for his camps each summer.

He shares the Vikings motivation for growing flag football among girls and women, and he grinned as they showed off their athleticism while running through drills.

"It's been bigger and bigger every single year," Jefferson said. "I've been seeing more and more girls in my camps now, and it's really cool to see the difference in how I used to grow up — with all the boys — and now interacting with boys and girls together. This game is evolving."