12 Mind-Boggling Factoids From Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s Breakout 2025 Season
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) makes a one handed catch against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (31) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
No longer in the shadows of long-time stars DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba seized his opportunity to become the Seattle Seahawks No. 1 target and then some in 2025, enjoying one of the greatest breakout seasons by a wideout in NFL history.
Though Smith-Njigba didn’t quite get to Calvin Johnson’s single-season receiving yardage record, he became only the 13th player in league history to record 1,700 or more receiving yards and only the eighth player to reach that mark with double-digit touchdown receptions. Those efforts fueled Seattle’s rise to the top of the NFC standings, playing a critical role in earning the NFC’s lone bye in the playoffs as he garnered First-Team All-Pro recognition, joining Hall of Famer Steve Largent as only the second receiver in franchise history to receive such accolades.
As Smith-Njigba and the Seahawks gear up for a grudge match against the 49ers in the Divisional Round at Lumen Field, here’s a look at 12 mind-boggling factoids that paint a picture of just how historic the third-year receiver’s 2025 campaign was:
*All statistics courtesy of TruMedia unless otherwise noted
Of 13 players to eclipse 1,700 receiving yards in a season in NFL history, Smith-Njigba did so on the fewest targets (163), three fewer than Nacua had with the Rams in 2025.
From that exclusive group, Smith-Njigba joined Calvin Johnson and Tyreek Hill as the only three players to reach the 1,700-yard mark while averaging more than 15 yards per reception.
In addition, Smith-Njigba matched Hill - who managed to accomplish the feat twice in Miami - as only the second player in league history to surpass 1,700 yards with fewer than 120 total receptions.
Digging deeper into that rare company chocked full of current and future Hall of Famers, Smith-Njigba ranked fourth in explosive reception percentage (35.3%) and tied for third with four 50+ yard receptions.
Per Dante Koplowitz-Fleming of NFL Research, Smith-Njigba became the first receiver to lead the AFC or NFC in receiving yards while playing for the No. 1 seed since Jerry Rice did so for the 49ers in 1994, joining Rice as the only player to do so since 1985.
Offering as much value as any individual receiver for an NFL team, Smith-Njigba comes in third all time in a single season for percentage of team’s receptions (36.6%), fourth in percentage of team’s receiving yards (44.1%), and third for team’s percentage of first down catches (44.1%).
Often relied upon at a historic rate, Smith-Njigba also ranks fourth all time in a season among qualified receivers with a 35.8% share of Seattle’s overall targets.
Entering rarified air, Smith-Njigba hauled in the third-most receptions on passes traveling 10+ yards through the air (60) and posted the third-most receiving yards (1,353) on such throws, trailing only Deandre Hopkins and Johnson.
Making his production on intermediate and deep throws all the more impressive, Smith-Njigba posted a 69% catch rate on 87 targets traveling 10-plus yards, more than 15% better than Hopkins or Johnson in their historic seasons.
A beacon of consistency even with an additional game on the schedule, Smith-Njigba tied for second-most 90+ yard receiving games in a single season (13), reaching the mark on 76% of Seattle’s regular season games.
Smith-Njigba also tied for sixth all-time with eight games of 90+ yards and at least one touchdown catch and tied for fourth-most games of seven or more receptions (12) in a season.
One of only nine players since 1970 with four straight games of 120+ receiving yards in NFL history, Smith-Njigba recorded the feat for the Seahawks from Week 5 to Week 9, sandwiching the last two games around a bye week.
