JuJu Smith-Schuster

John Sherman JuJu Smith-Schuster Bio

John Sherman JuJu Smith-Schuster is an American professional football wide receiver currently playing for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Born in Long Beach, California, Smith-Schuster played college football at the University of Southern California before being selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He has established himself as a dynamic receiving threat known for his physical play and reliable hands. Smith-Schuster won Super Bowl LVII with the Chiefs in 2023 and has earned Pro Bowl honors along with multiple All-American and All-Pac-12 selections during his college and professional career.

Early Life and Background

Smith-Schuster was born on November 22, 1996, in Long Beach, California, and grew up in the city as the second-eldest of seven children. His mother, Sammy (Toa), and stepfather, Lawrence Schuster, raised him after his biological father was not active in his life. Lawrence Schuster entered the family picture when Smith-Schuster was four years old and became a significant influence. Smith-Schuster legally hyphenated his last name after turning 18, adding Schuster in honor of his stepfather.

Of African-American and Samoan descent, Smith-Schuster began playing football at the age of eight. He played youth football in the Snoop Youth Football League, where he was coached by rapper Snoop Dogg. Snoop gave him the nickname Sportscenter, telling the young player he believed his highlights would one day be shown on the flagship ESPN show. His aunt gave him the nickname JuJu when he was a few months old, initially calling him John-John before settling on JuJu.

Path to the NFL

Smith-Schuster attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California, a program that held the record for sending the most football players to NFL careers of any high school in the United States at that time. He played both wide receiver and safety for the Jackrabbits football team. Rivals.com rated him as a five-star recruit, ranking him as the second-best wide receiver in his class and the 24th-best player overall nationally.

Smith-Schuster initially committed to play at Oregon before changing his decision to attend the University of Southern California during his televised commitment. He played under then-head coach Steve Sarkisian for the USC Trojans from 2014 to 2016. He earned immediate playing time as a true freshman in 2014, finishing with 54 receptions for 724 yards and five touchdowns. His sophomore season in 2015 proved to be his breakout college year, as he led the team with 89 receptions for 1,454 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, earning second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 honors. He also helped the Trojans win the Rose Bowl that year, catching seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown against Penn State. After his junior season in 2016 with 914 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, he announced he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

John Sherman JuJu Smith-Schuster Career

Pittsburgh Steelers (2017-2021)

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Smith-Schuster in the second round with the 62nd overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year contract worth $4.19 million with $1.84 million guaranteed and a $1.19 million signing bonus. He became the youngest player selected in the 2017 Draft and was the 13th USC wide receiver drafted in the previous 15 years.

Smith-Schuster made his NFL debut in the season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns and was credited with his first career start as a kick returner. In Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings, he recorded his first career reception and touchdown on a four-yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger. During that game, he became the youngest NFL player to score a touchdown since Andy Livingston in 1964. In Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals, he became the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns before turning 21 years old. His breakout performance came in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions, where he caught seven passes for 193 yards and scored a 97-yard touchdown, the longest pass play in Steelers franchise history and the longest touchdown reception in the league during the 2017 season. He finished his rookie year with 58 receptions for 917 yards and seven touchdowns, leading all rookies in receiving yards and touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his Week 8 performance.

Pro Bowl Season and Continued Growth (2018-2019)

Smith-Schuster entered the 2018 season as a starting wide receiver after the Steelers traded Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders. He had a standout season, catching a team-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns. He finished fifth in the NFL in receiving yards and was voted team MVP by his teammates. On November 25 against the Denver Broncos, he became the first player in NFL history to have two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. He earned his first career Pro Bowl selection as an alternate. He was ranked 47th by his fellow players on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2019.

The 2019 season was cut short due to injury. In Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, he passed Randy Moss as the youngest wide receiver to reach 2,500 career receiving yards at 22 years and 297 days old. In Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns, he suffered a concussion from a helmet-to-helmet hit by cornerback Greedy Williams. He missed most of the season after also suffering a knee injury, finishing with a career-low 552 yards and three touchdowns on 42 catches.

Kansas City Chiefs First Stint and Super Bowl Run (2022)

Smith-Schuster signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on March 20, 2022, on a one-year contract worth a maximum of $10.75 million. He scored his first touchdown as a Chief in Week 6 against the Buffalo Bills. In the following game against the San Francisco 49ers, he had seven receptions for 124 receiving yards and a touchdown in a 44-23 victory. He finished the 2022 season with 78 receptions for 933 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Smith-Schuster played a notable role in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. With 1:54 remaining and the game tied 35-35, he was held by Eagles cornerback James Bradberry on third down. The holding call resulted in a first down for the Chiefs, allowing them to run down the clock before kicking the game-winning field goal to win 38-35. He caught seven passes for 53 yards in the championship game.

New England Patriots (2023)

On March 17, 2023, Smith-Schuster signed a three-year contract worth $33 million with the New England Patriots. His first season in New England was challenging, as he finished with only 29 catches for 260 yards and one touchdown through 11 games and seven starts. The Patriots released him on August 9, 2024, after one season.

Kansas City Chiefs Return (2024-Present)

Smith-Schuster returned to the Chiefs on August 26, 2024, signing a one-year deal to reunite with the team. In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, he had his best game of the season, finishing with 130 receiving yards and a touchdown on seven receptions as the Chiefs won 26-13. He finished the 2024 season with 18 receptions for 231 yards and two touchdowns. He contributed to the Chiefs Super Bowl LIX appearance, catching two passes for 16 yards in the 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On March 15, 2025, Smith-Schuster re-signed with the Chiefs on another one-year contract.

Receiving Style and Strengths

Smith-Schuster is known for his physical style of play and reliable hands across the middle of the field. He has demonstrated the ability to make contested catches and excel in the slot position. His football intelligence and understanding of route concepts have allowed him to develop strong chemistry with quarterbacks throughout his career. His career-high nine touchdowns in 2020 came primarily from the slot position, showcasing his versatility as a receiver who can line up in multiple spots.

Notable Events and Milestones

Smith-Schuster holds several NFL records, including being the youngest player to reach 2,500 career receiving yards. He is also the first player in NFL history to have two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards. He holds multiple Steelers franchise records from his time in Pittsburgh. His social media presence, particularly on TikTok where he earned the nickname TikTok Boy, has made him one of the NFL most marketable players according to Sports Business Daily.

John Sherman JuJu Smith-Schuster Career Wins

Smith-Schuster has accumulated impressive statistics across his NFL career. Through the 2025 season, he has recorded 481 career receptions for 5,624 receiving yards and 35 touchdowns. His most productive season came in 2018 with the Steelers when he caught 111 passes for 1,426 yards.

College Highlights

At USC, Smith-Schuster was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection and earned second-team All-American honors in 2015. His best college season came as a sophomore in 2015 when he caught 89 passes for 1,454 yards and 10 touchdowns. He helped lead USC to a Rose Bowl victory over Penn State in 2016, catching seven passes for 133 yards and a touchdown in that game.

NFL Highlights

Smith-Schuster most productive NFL season came in 2018 when he caught 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Pro Bowl honors. His 2020 season with the Steelers saw him catch 97 passes for 831 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns. With the Chiefs in 2022, he contributed 78 receptions for 933 yards and three touchdowns during the regular season before helping the team win Super Bowl LVII.

Other Notable Achievements

Smith-Schuster was named the Polynesian Professional Football Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2017 after leading all rookies with 917 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He was voted Steelers team MVP by his teammates in 2018 and has been recognized as one of the NFL most marketable players.

John Sherman JuJu Smith-Schuster Family

Family Background and Heritage

Smith-Schuster is of African-American and Samoan descent and was raised in Long Beach, California. He is the second-eldest of seven children. His mother is Sammy (Toa) and his stepfather is Lawrence Schuster, who has been in his life since he was four years old. Smith-Schuster has one biological sister named Soomalo. He legally hyphenated his last name to Smith-Schuster after turning 18, adding Schuster in honor of his stepfather. His cousin, Johnny Nansen, was formerly an assistant coach at USC.

Personal Life

Smith-Schuster identifies as a Christian and has been open about his faith. He has built a significant social media presence across platforms including TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch. His TikTok videos, particularly those featuring his celebrations before games, earned him the nickname TikTok Boy. He has partnered with esports organization FaZe Clan and announced in 2020 that he would own a new esports team called Team Diverge. He frequently streams video games including Fortnite and Call of Duty, and has a French bulldog named Boujee who often appears in his content.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NFL season saw Smith-Schuster return to the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year contract after his mid-2024 signing. He competed for targets in a Chiefs receiving corps that featured several playmakers. The season included a notable incident in Week 6 when, following the Chiefs win over the Detroit Lions, Smith-Schuster attempted to shake hands with safety Brian Branch, who proceeded to punch him in the face, beginning a brief brawl between the two teams.

Smith-Schuster finished the 2025 season with 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown. The Chiefs continued their recent success, though Smith-Schuster saw limited production compared to earlier in his career. He remained a veteran presence in the locker room and contributed when called upon. His chemistry with the coaching staff and familiarity with the Chiefs offensive system kept him in the rotation as they competed for another playoff berth.