Minnesota Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson (18) turns upfield after making a reception towards the Cincinnati Bengals, Sep. 21, 2025, in the course of the first half at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. Jefferson accelerated into open area following the catch as Minnesota’s offense leaned on its star playmaker in an early-season residence matchup towards Cincinnati. Necessary Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos.
Minnesota Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson did completely nothing to partake, however the 26-year-old discovered himself caught within the crossfire this week of a wierd beef between former NFLer Leonard Fournette and ex-coach Jay Gruden.
Gruden claimed he urged the Jacksonville Jaguars to draft Jefferson in 2020, however they didn’t hear.
Jacksonville’s Draft Remorse Apparently Nonetheless Follows the Jefferson Dialog
Jacksonville Jaguars operating again Leonard Fournette carries the soccer towards the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 15, 2019, on the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The matchup marked the Raiders’ last recreation on the historic stadium earlier than the franchise relocated to Las Vegas for the 2020 season, whereas Jacksonville escaped with a slim 20-16 street victory. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Fournette Cooks Gruden
Fournette stated about Gruden on the 4th and South podcast, “We didn’t see eye to eye at all. To me, he was somebody that was kind of hard to read. I’m just being real; he’s a fu*king ashole. To do all that and to find out afterward, years later, that he didn’t want me there, that’s kind of… that’s a sh*tty situation.”
“People gotta understand that business, there’s so many fake people, and it’s so hard to find certain coaches to be real, and they do have them in there, but it is hard as hell to find them.”
Fournette final performed within the NFL in 2023.
He continued, “And I just think, based on our relationship, by me coming in that year, and yeah, I got cut, was that 2019 or 2020. Yeah, 2020. I came here, did everything right, and I think I just feel like he kind of faked it with me the whole way, meaning, ‘Lenny, you’re doing everything right, da da da da. You know you’re the best back we got.’”
Gruden: Effectively, I Wished JJets
Gruden, who served because the Jaguars’ offensive coordinator in 2020, the season talked about by Fournette, discovered a tweet detailing Fournette’s ideas and retweeted, “Damn. Leonard. If anyone listened to me, we would of taken Justin Jefferson with one of our two first round picks :).”
As an alternative, and evidently opposite to what Gruden really helpful on the time, Jacksonville drafted cornerback C.J. Henderson and defensive deal with Ok’Lavon Chaisson throughout that draft, two males who turned out to be mid-level contributors and nowhere close to approaching Jefferson’s tier of stardom.
Gruden lasted only one season in Jacksonville, was employed by the Los Angeles Rams as a advisor in 2022, and has been left for lifeless in NFL-speak since. He’s principally recognized for partaking in Twitter (X) feuds today, so his tweet about Fournette and Jefferson was on model.
A Weird Clapback
In regards to the tweet … it additionally didn’t make a lot sense. Fournette criticized Gruden for saying one factor and doing one other—mainly, claiming his persona is unkind and inhospitable.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Jay Gruden watches replay footage in the course of the second half towards the Indianapolis Colts on Sep. 13, 2020, at TIAA Financial institution Subject in Jacksonville, Florida. Gruden oversaw Jacksonville’s offensive operation in the course of the season opener because the Jaguars labored to determine rhythm and consistency towards an AFC South division rival early within the common season. Necessary Credit score: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Gruden’s response? “I would’ve drafted Justin Jefferson.”
What advantage does the rebuttal have? Was he hoping to show that he was much more of a jerk? In that case, mission completed. One may suppose Gruden would use the chance to inform his aspect of the story, clear his title, or settle the meat with Fournette.
As an alternative, Gruden unusually talked about his draft suggestion for Jefferson. Who cares?
Black and Teal‘s Carlos Sanchez famous on the brand new beef, “Jay Gruden was one and done with the Jaguars. He was hired in 2020 to kickstart the Jaguars offense, but his unit ranked 30th in points scored and 28th in total yards. Granted, he didn’t have much talent to work with. Couple that with the fact that Gardner Minshew regressed after an encouraging rookie campaign, and it’s easy to see why he came up short.”
“That said, Gruden played a role in Jacksonville’s 1-15 record that year, so he most definitely deserved to get the boot. Nevertheless, it was still baffling to see the Jags move on from Playoff Lenny even though he was still on his rookie deal. Fast forward to 2026, and Fournette has opened up about the reason that led to his departure from Jacksonville.”
Gruden Proper if Telling the Fact
Then again, if Gruden is telling the reality, drafting Jefferson, certainly, would’ve been the wiser selection for the Jaguars — or any workforce, apart from the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020, who rightly picked Joe Burrow at No. 1.
Minnesota Vikings large receiver Justin Jefferson poses after successful AP Offensive Participant of the 12 months on Feb. 9, 2023, throughout NFL Honors at Symphony Corridor in Phoenix, Arizona. Jefferson earned recognition following a dominant season that cemented his standing among the many NFL’s premier playmakers and additional elevated expectations surrounding Minnesota’s high-powered offense. Necessary Credit score: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Jefferson is forging a path to the Corridor of Fame and is the face of the Vikings franchise. It’s fairly handy to say, “I would’ve picked Jefferson” six years later, but when Gruden isn’t mendacity, effectively, he was proper.
You possibly can comply with Gruden and all his zany Twitter takes right here. In the event you benefit from the NFL in Jerry Springer mode, there’s no higher Twitter web page from a former coach’s standpoint.
The Jaguars open the 2026 common season at residence towards the Cleveland Browns in 15 weeks.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
