When Jaxon Smith-Njigba took the stage during Wednesday's press conference, the auditorium was packed full of Seahawks employees, Seahawks coaches, and Smith-Njigba's family and friends. To the left of the stage sat Smith-Njigba's dad, Maada and brother, Canaan, and his cameraman, and to the right of the stage sat four of his friends.
A big moment and a big audience for a big contract extension.
When Jaxon inked his contract extension, making him the highest-paid receiver in NFL history, the contract was representative of the resume Smith-Njigba has built for himself – 2025 Offensive Player of the Year, the NFL's 2025 receiving-yards leader and Super Bowl champion, but for Jaxon the contract represented a sense of relief.
"Really just stability and definitely comfortable," he said on Wednesday. "I feel extra protected, to protect myself and protect my family. This is a tough game, and it is a business, so just to get that part done, I feel like, definitely, there is a weight off my shoulders, just to go out there and be myself and just try to win, give it everything I have."
And that takes everyone around him, including his family and friends.
"It takes a village," Jaxon said. "My brother plays a big role in getting stuff done and allowing me to focus on things I want to focus on and build on things. And he's my right-hand man… So, to have him is a blessing and something I don't take for granted."
His dad, who worked as a firefighter in Dallas, can now retire 20 years early and help Jaxon as much as he needs it.
"I'm able to retire and then also be in Jaxon's camp," said Maada. "Went through a tough career, and now I'm able to be hands on with him, make sure he's going in the right direction, make sure that everything is aligned, and I'm there to help. I think that's a really big blessing from this extension."
He added, "To be a Seahawk, he has to worry about doing Seahawk things. Because he has his brother, because he has me, because he has people from his childhood, we can take care of everything else. And we're going to do it the right way. It's a team effort. He takes care of Sunday; we take care of Monday through Saturday."
Jaxon being able to repay his dad and help him retire now is just a mirror of the support his dad has poured into him.
"He's been training, throwing footballs at me since I was three years old," Jaxon said. "I mean, he is the reason I'm here today. Just the leader and how strong he is physically and mentally, for us to live out our dreams. Definitely a lot of love for him. And I don't take that for granted as well."
The extension comes to no surprise to Jaxon or his family.
Maada said, "You plant something 20 years ago when he's four years old, and then 20 years later, it comes into full bloom… He's worth it. He's worth every penny."
"Yeah, [I knew] it could be possible," Jaxon said. "But when things are kind of out of my control, I tend to just let the universe do its thing, and just walk by faith and continue to stick to my principles and what I stand on. So, yeah, I knew it was possible, but anything is possible."
He later said, "This proves that I'm good – for a long time. I guess that's what it proves."
Jaxon's extension comes on the heels of a season where he led the league with 1,793 yards on 119 receptions, both of which are franchise records, and lived up to his "best in the world" nickname. He proved that he was one of the best. Through the entire season, Jaxon was checking the boxes of a long list of goals he'd set for himself during the 2025 offseason. Winning the Super Bowl was the ultimate goal on that list, but a contract extension was the least of his worries.
"I didn't even have it on the list, to be honest," he said. "I said the most important thing is win the Super Bowl, and I truly meant that, and everything else, it just falls in your hands."
Canaan added, "It just shows that hard work beats talent. I'm very grateful for the Seahawks too... give that kind of investment to my brother, because they're just not going to just give someone 100 million dollars, so he must be doing something right."
This extension also means Jaxon will be able to pour into the community even more than he already has.
"More than the money, just to be here, and to continue giving back to the community, and being a part of a great community, and a great city is something that's very special," he said.
He added, "I think it's a special place and a place for growth. And me growing as a young man, I just fell in love with the city. I want the best for my community, especially if I'm going to lay my head here. So anything I can do to help, I will. And John just gave me some more opportunity to do so. So definitely appreciative of that and the city. I can feel the love here. So just want to repay it back."
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos. Check out some of the best photos from his eventful day.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba visited the Virginia Mason Athletic Center on March 25, 2026 to sign a contract extension, speak to media and take photos.
