“I consider it an absolute blessing to be your mom and thankful to witness how awesome you truly are,” Marla Jefferson’s heartfelt birthday message to her son Van Jefferson in X reveals just one chapter of the Jefferson family’s remarkable NFL story. Behind Pittsburgh Steelers‘ wide receiver Van Jefferson stands a legacy shaped by two loving parents – one who blazed NFL trails, and another who keeps faith at the family’s center.

The story of the Jeffersons mirrors countless Sunday football gatherings but with a twist – their family reunions sometimes happen on opposing NFL sidelines. From midfield exchanges to postgame hugs, their tale showcases how football bonds stretch beyond team colors.

Is Van Jefferson related to Shawn Jefferson?

Van Jefferson’s football DNA flows directly from his father, Shawn Jefferson, the current New York Jets wide receivers coach. The elder Jefferson carved out an impressive 13-season NFL career, amassing 470 catches for 7,023 yards and 29 touchdowns across stints with four different teams.

Selected by the Houston Oilers in the 1991 draft’s ninth round, Shawn’s journey included 195 regular-season games and two Super Bowl appearances (XXIX and XXXI). His most explosive season came in 1998 with the New England Patriots, where he led the NFL with a stunning 22.7-yard per catch average.

While Shawn dominated the gridiron, Marla Jefferson, a self-described “Believer, Christ follower, Wife, Mother, Sister, Friend, Pray-er,” anchored their home. Together with Van, they raised two daughters, Paige and Faith, building a tight-knit family unit that celebrates both faith and football.

From the San Diego Chargers to the Detroit Lions, Shawn’s playing career transformed into a coaching journey. He’s shaped the receiving corps for multiple NFL teams, including the Lions, Titans, Dolphins, Cardinals, Panthers, and now the Jets. This path would later set up an unforgettable father-son showdown.

Father-son rivalry 

Week 7’s Steelers-Jets matchup turned the Jefferson family’s usual FaceTime trash talk into reality. Van snagged his first touchdown as a Steeler – a four-yard grab from Russell Wilson – while his father watched from the opposing sideline as Jets’ receivers coach.

The touchdown, which pushed Pittsburgh’s lead to 30-15, came in a game where Wilson had replaced Justin Fields, who had guided the team to a solid 4-2 start. But the scoreboard told only half the story. “Every time we play, we are always trash-talking each other,” Van shared post-game. “I never take it for granted. I’m always thankful and blessed to be able to play against my dad.”

In a touching sideline moment captured by Steelers’ cameras, Van searched the field with the touchdown ball, hoping to share the milestone with his father. “I couldn’t find pops,” he later smiled, adding another chapter to their ongoing football story.

The elder Jefferson’s response captured both coach and father perfectly: “Blessed to see my son being out on the field and just enjoying what he does. I think that’s enough.” These words echo the pride of a father who’s watched his son follow in his footsteps from football fields to family values.