After a scintillating 2025 season, Smith-Njigba has been rewarded.
The Seattle Seahawks are one game away from a Super Bowl appearance in the second season under head coach Mike Macdonald.
For most, the Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams in football all season, ending with a 14-3 record.
Sam Darnold has continued to quieten critics, with big performances in big moments, often not his calling card.
But perhaps the biggest reason for Seattle's superb season, other than Darnold and the defense, has been the play of receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
JSN had a season to remember.
A total of 1,793 yards and 10 touchdowns from 119 receptions, he led all Seahawks players by some margin. Among other Seahawks, he had nearly triple the amount of yards as the next best, double the amount of receptions, and four more TDs than the closest Seattle player.
All of that led to JSN earning his second Pro Bowl nod and his first-ever All-Pro selection.
So that is some season from the third-year receiver.
But the accolades haven't stopped.
The Pro Football Writers of America have named Smith-Njigba as the Offensive Player of the Year for 2025.
Yet another feather in JSN's cap.
Is that warranted? We think so.
Jaxon led the league in receiving yards, was fourth in receptions, fifth in targets, and seventh in TDs. That is superb.
And Smith-Njigba's form didn't stop once the regular season ended.
He caught a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the 41-6 drubbing, while having three receptions for 19 yards.
In a game where the Seahawks dominated from start to finish with special teams and Kenneth Walker, the passing game didn't have to play a role. Darnold had just 17 pass attempts.
But as we turn our attention to the NFC Championship game and the Los Angeles Rams, I get the feeling that Smith-Njigba will need to show up in a big way.
His stats against the Rams in 2025 make for good reading.
In the first meeting, Jaxon posted 105 yards from nine receptions, and in his second outing against Los Angeles' defense, he continued that form, grabbing a touchdown and 96 yards from eight receptions.
So Smith-Njigba will have to play a significant role for Seattle to claim the season series, which stands at 1-1.
But this time, there's more than bragging rights on the line; there's a Super Bowl.
It's been a great season from JSN, with plenty of accolades coming his way, but getting that Super Bowl ring will trump anything he's gotten in his career thus far.