A Star Shines in the Spotlight

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has always been known for his quiet demeanor, even during what many consider to be his most impressive season as an offensive player. However, after the Seattle Seahawks’ 31-27 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, Smith-Njigba was anything but reserved. The star wide receiver celebrated his team’s win with a roar and a loud “Let’s go!” when Tom Brady asked him how he felt about reaching the Super Bowl.

“One more, can’t wait,” Smith-Njigba said. “San Francisco. You can read it. You can read it.”

Smith-Njigba delivered one of his best performances of the season when his team needed him the most. He recorded 10 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown. Most of those yards came in the first half, where he accumulated 115 receiving yards — the highest in the first half of a conference championship game in nine years. Additionally, he became the fourth player in NFL history to record at least 90 receiving yards in 14 games (including the postseason).

A Play That Stunned Everyone

One of the standout moments of the game came on a nine-yard reception late in the first quarter. With the Seahawks facing a third-and-2 at the Rams’ 16-yard line, Sam Darnold rolled to his left and appeared to throw a pass that seemed just out of Smith-Njigba’s reach. Instead, the receiver made an outstretched, one-handed grab. He extended his right arm to catch the ball and managed to stay in bounds, moving the chains for his team.

“Why do you need two hands when you got one that’s like a suction cup? What a catch,” Brady remarked during the broadcast.

The Seahawks settled for a field goal, extending their lead to 10-3. Smith-Njigba’s touchdown grab came late in the first half, breaking through the Rams’ secondary for a 14-yard score that gave the Seahawks a 17-13 lead just before halftime.

However, it was the play before that left Brady in awe. Smith-Njigba battled for a pass Darnold threw to him in the back of the end zone, coming up with the grab, but landing out of bounds. This led Brady to praise what makes Smith-Njigba such an elite receiver.

“Of course, he caught it,” Brady remarked. “He was just three yards out of bounds. But he catches everything! One-handed, two-handed, off the fingertips — he’s so graceful with his body control. He’s like an ice skater out there when I see him run routes. He glides and his shoulder plane never dips. It’s always the same height. A lot of receivers, when they run, if they’re speeding up or stopping, their shoulder planes will rise or fall. He maintains the same shoulder plane when he runs his route.”

“It’s really hard for any defensive back to get a beat on what he’s doing,” Brady added.

A Team Effort

While Smith-Njigba’s contributions were significant, they were just one part of the puzzle that helped the Seahawks become NFC champions this season. Sam Darnold was one of the league’s top passers, Kenneth Walker had some big games as a running back, and the Seahawks’ defense led the league in scoring during the regular season.

Smith-Njigba wasn’t surprised that it took more than just his efforts to help the Seahawks secure their spot in the Super Bowl.

“It starts the offseason, just building a culture from the ground up,” Smith-Njigba told Brady. “Coming into this game, we told each other whatever we have to do in all phases — defense, offense, special teams — we’re going to get the job done. Whatever it takes. That’s what you saw tonight, man.”

A New Chapter

Now, Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks will face one of Brady’s former teams, the New England Patriots, in Super Bowl LX. While it’s a rematch of a Super Bowl that took place 11 years ago, both teams are playing for a title just a year after missing the playoffs.

“That’s what it’s about, it’s about the journey and what we had to come through, ups and downs,” Smith-Njigba told Brady. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I love this team and the way we fought. I’m just super proud of this team and super proud to be a Seahawk.”