“He’s a tremendous talent, tremendous leader, but his leadership really shows up when he’s here,” said McCarthy, who accompanied Jefferson to a Timberwolves playoff game last month when they sat together in courtside seats. “Just being able to get that chemistry building on and off the field has been invaluable.”

After signing a massive contract extension last summer that made among the highest paid players in the NFL, Justin Jefferson was voted a team captain by his teammates on the Vikings. What did the standout receiver learn about himself stepping into that position?