History of JuJu Smith-Schuster in Timeline
JuJu Smith-Schuster is an NFL wide receiver currently playing for the New England Patriots. He played college football at USC, earning All-American honors, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017. In 2022, he won Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs.
1930: Arnie Herber Sets Record as Youngest Player to Catch a Touchdown
In 1930, Arnie Herber etched his name in NFL history by becoming the youngest player ever to catch a touchdown, a record that still stands today.
1958: Jimmy Orr Sets Steelers Rookie Receiving Record
In 1958, Jimmy Orr set a Steelers franchise record for receiving yards by a rookie, a record that stood for nearly six decades until JuJu Smith-Schuster came close to breaking it in 2017.
1964: Smith-Schuster Becomes Youngest Touchdown Scorer Since Andy Livingston
In 1964, Andy Livingston set a record as the youngest NFL player to score a touchdown, a record that stood for over five decades until JuJu Smith-Schuster broke it during a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
November 22, 1996: Birth of JuJu Smith-Schuster
On November 22, 1996, JuJu Smith-Schuster (born John Sherman Smith) was born. This event marks the beginning of his life.
2012: Adoption of the Nickname "JuJu"
In 2012, he officially changed his name in football programs from "John" to "JuJu," a nickname given to him by his aunt at a young age.
2014: Mike Evans' Impressive Rookie Season
During his rookie season in 2014, Mike Evans had an impressive performance, recording 209 receiving yards in a single game, showcasing his potential as a top wide receiver in the NFL.
2014: Impressive Freshman Debut at USC
In 2014, Smith-Schuster made an immediate impact as a true freshman for USC, showcasing his talent with a standout performance in his first-ever game, recording 123 receiving yards against Fresno State.
2015: Smith-Schuster Earns Second-Team All-American Honors
During his sophomore year at USC in 2015, Smith-Schuster's exceptional performance on the field earned him recognition as a second-team All-American.
2015: Leading Receiver for the USC Trojans
In 2015, Smith-Schuster continued to excel at USC, finishing his sophomore year as the team's leading receiver, amassing an impressive 1,454 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games.
October 1, 2016: Stellar Performance Against Arizona State
On October 1, 2016, Smith-Schuster delivered a remarkable performance against Arizona State, showcasing his skills with 123 receiving yards and three touchdowns, further solidifying his reputation as a top wide receiver prospect.
May 17, 2017: Signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers
On May 17, 2017, Smith-Schuster officially signed his rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, a four-year deal worth $4.19 million, marking the beginning of his NFL journey.
2017: Entering the 2017 NFL Draft
Following a successful college career at USC, Smith-Schuster made the decision to forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL draft. This decision was driven by his desire to pursue a professional football career at the highest level.
2017: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers
In 2017, JuJu Smith-Schuster's talent was recognized by the NFL when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the draft, marking the beginning of his professional football journey.
2017: Smith-Schuster Sets Record for Youngest Player with 1,000 All-Purpose Yards
In 2017, Smith-Schuster continued to break records, becoming the youngest player in NFL history to surpass 1,000 all-purpose yards, demonstrating his versatility and impact on the field.
2017: Smith-Schuster's Breakout Performance Against the Detroit Lions
In 2017, during a game against the Detroit Lions, Smith-Schuster had a breakout performance, amassing 193 receiving yards and scoring a 97-yard touchdown, the longest pass play in Steelers history at the time.
January 14, 2018: Smith-Schuster's First Playoff Appearance
On January 14, 2018, Smith-Schuster experienced his first taste of playoff football, starting in a Divisional Round game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he contributed with three receptions for five yards and a crucial late touchdown despite the Steelers' narrow loss.
January 18, 2018: Steelers Promote Randy Fichtner to Offensive Coordinator
On January 18, 2018, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a significant coaching change, promoting quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner to the role of offensive coordinator. This decision marked the end of Todd Haley's tenure as the team's offensive coordinator and brought Fichtner to the forefront of the Steelers' offensive strategy.
February 2018: Partnership with FaZe Clan
In February 2018, JuJu Smith-Schuster partnered with the gaming group FaZe Clan to sell merchandise.
2018: Team MVP and Pro Bowl Selection
In 2018, JuJu Smith-Schuster was voted team MVP by his Steelers teammates. He achieved a team-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, also earning his first Pro Bowl selection.
2018: Participates in Ninja's Fortnite Stream
In 2018, JuJu Smith-Schuster participated in Ninja's record-breaking Fortnite stream along with Drake and Travis Scott.
2019: Injury-Shortened Season
In 2019, JuJu Smith-Schuster had his first 100-yard game of the season against the Miami Dolphins, but he missed most of the season due to a knee injury from a helmet-to-helmet hit in Week 11 against the Browns.
2019: Ranked Among NFL's Best
In 2019, JuJu Smith-Schuster was ranked 47th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players list.
2019: Smith-Schuster Ranked Among NFL's Most Marketable Players
In 2019, Smith-Schuster's growing popularity both on and off the field led to his recognition by Sports Business Daily as one of the NFL's most marketable players, demonstrating his significant brand appeal.
2019: Thursday Night Football Stream
While injured in 2019, JuJu Smith-Schuster participated in a live Thursday Night Football stream with TimTheTatman.
October 2020: Launches Esports Team
In October 2020, JuJu Smith-Schuster announced the launch of his own esports team, Team Diverge.
2020: Strong Start and Game-Winning Touchdowns
JuJu Smith-Schuster started 2020 strong with two touchdowns in the season opener. He also had notable performances against the Cowboys, where he celebrated a touchdown on the star at midfield, and against the Colts, where he caught the game-winning touchdown in Week 16.
March 19, 2021: Re-signs with Steelers
On March 19, 2021, JuJu Smith-Schuster re-signed with the Steelers on a one-year, $8 million contract.
August 2021: Milk Crate Challenge Controversy
In August 2021, JuJu Smith-Schuster was involved in a controversy after attempting the viral milk crate challenge, which had been banned by TikTok due to safety concerns.
March 20, 2022: Signs with Kansas City Chiefs
On March 20, 2022, JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
October 16, 2022: First Touchdown as a Chief
JuJu Smith-Schuster scored his first touchdown as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs on October 16, 2022, against the Buffalo Bills.
2022: Super Bowl LVII Victory with the Kansas City Chiefs
In 2022, JuJu Smith-Schuster achieved a significant career milestone by winning Super Bowl LVII with the Kansas City Chiefs.
March 17, 2023: Signs with New England Patriots
On March 17, 2023, JuJu Smith-Schuster signed a three-year contract with the New England Patriots.