John Sherman AKA JuJu Smith-Schuster is an American football wide receiver who plays for the National Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs (NFL). He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft after playing college football for USC.
As the youngest player to accumulate 2,500 receiving yards in a career and the first to score two offensive touchdowns of at least 97 yards, Smith-Schuster holds several NFL records. He also holds many Steelers dynasty records. Off the field, he is also well-known for his involvement in social media and his love of esports. One of the NFL players with the most marketability in 2019 was Smith-Schuster.
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Early Life and Education
At the age of eight, Smith-Schuster started participating in football. He legally changed his last name from “Smith” to “Smith-Schuster” while attending college as a tribute to his step-father. In 2012, he changed his name from “John” to “JuJu” in football program listings, a nickname his aunt gave him when he was young. Snoop Dogg coached Smith-Schuster when he was a young player in the Snoop Youth Football League. Snoop gave Smith-Schuster the nickname “Sportscenter” and assured the youngster that he thought one day his highlights would air on the premier ESPN program.
Later, he went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School, the American high school with the record for producing the most football players who went on to play in the NFL, in Long Beach, California. For the school’s football team, the Jackrabbits, he was a safety and wide receiver. According to Rivals.com, Smith-Schuster was a five-star recruit, the second-best wide receiver in his class, and the 24th-best player overall. He initially made up his mind to attend Oregon, but during his televised commitment, he changed his mind and said he would go to the University of Southern California (USC) to play college football for then-head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Family
JuJu Smith-Schuster was reared in Long Beach, California, and is of African American and Samoan origin. He considers himself to be a Christian and is the second oldest of seven kids. Johnny Nansen, his cousin, once served as USC’s assistant coach. When Smith-Schuster was just a few months old, his aunt gave him the moniker “JuJu.” Before choosing to call him “JuJu,” she called him “John-John.” Their father was not involved in their lives, and he only has one biological sister named So’omalo. When Smith-Schuster was four years old, his mother Sammy (Toa) met his stepfather Lawrence Schuster. After turning 18 and adding the Schuster in honour of his stepfather, Smith-Schuster legally hyphenated his last name.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Girl Friend
JuJu Smith-Schuster is as yet single and presumably searching for the ideal woman to spend the rest of his life with. Despite being a well-known athlete and standing at 6 feet 1, the football player appears to be more concerned with his career than with having fun. He has no established relationships with women, but he dreams of meeting his queen someday.
Career
At the age of eight, Smith-Schuster started participating in football. He legally changed his last name from “Smith” to “Smith-Schuster” while attending college as a tribute to his step-father. In 2012, he changed his name from “John” to “Ju-Ju” in football program listings, a nickname an aunt gave him when he was little. Snoop Dogg coached Smith-Schuster when he was a young player in the Snoop Youth Football League. Snoop gave Smith-Schuster the nickname “Sportscenter,” telling the youngster that he thought someday his highlights would be on the main ESPN program.
Smith-Schuster became the team’s top wide receiver after the Steelers traded Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders before the start of the season. Smith-Schuster hauled in six passes for 78 yards in Week 1’s 33-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Smith-Schuster hauled in five passes for 84 yards in Week 2’s 26-28 loss to the Seattle Seahawks as the Steelers. Smith-Schuster overtook Randy Moss to become the youngest wide receiver to reach 2500 receiving yards during the game (22 years, 297 days). The Pittsburgh Steelers fell 24-20 to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 despite Smith-Schuster catching three passes for 81 yards and a touchdown pass of 76 yards.
Smith-Schuster caught seven passes for 75 yards and a score against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5 after a lacklustre performance in the Steelers’ first victory in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He fumbled after collecting a pass, though, Ravens defender Marlon Humphrey batted the ball out of Smith-hands Schuster’s hands, causing him to fumble after receiving a pass. The Steelers lost 26-23 in overtime as a result of the costly turnover, which allowed Baltimore to score the game-winning field goal. Juju caught five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown in Week 8’s Monday Night Football victory over the Miami Dolphins, 27-14. Smith-100-yard Schuster’s receiving game was his first of the year.
In 2015, when he had 1,454 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches, he was chosen for the First Team All-Pac-12.
In the Steelers’ season-opening victory over the Cleveland Browns, Smith-Schuster made his NFL debut and received credit for his first career start as a kick returner, returning one kick for four yards. Smith-Schuster made his NFL debut as the league’s youngest player. Ben Roethlisberger’s four-yard toss to Juju in Week 2’s 26-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings marked both his first career reception and his first career touchdown catch.
Juju Smith-Schuster scored a touchdown against the Vikings to become the league’s youngest player since running back Andy Livingston in 1964.
In addition, he passed Arnie Herber, who was 60 days younger than Juju when he caught a touchdown in 1930, to become the second-youngest player in NFL history to catch a touchdown.
Following a blindside block against Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict in Week 13, Juju Smith-Schuster was given a one-game suspension on December 5, 2017. In Week 17, he scored on a 96-yard kickoff return and added nine receptions for 143 yards and another score as his team defeated the Cleveland Browns 28-24. Smith-performance Schuster’s made him the NFL’s youngest player ever with more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. For his kick return touchdown, he was also named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He had seven touchdowns and 58 receptions for 917 yards at the end of the season, which were the most among rookies. He was recognized as the 2017 Polynesian Professional Football Player of the Year.
Although the Trojans used him less frequently as a junior in 2016, he still played 13 games and had 914 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He also contributed to the Trojans’ Rose Bowl victory that year over the Penn State Nittany Lions by collecting seven catches for 133 yards and a receiving touchdown. Before joining the sports agency Roc Nation, Juju tweeted after the 2016 season that he has planned to forgo his senior year and pursue the 2017 NFL Draft.
Smith Schuster’s potential based on his undergraduate performance was described by fellow USC alumnus Lynn Swann as follows: “He’s got the size. He’s got the strength. He’s got the attitude … In Juju, you’ve got a guy who’s got the kind of versatility you might be looking for.” Juju Smith-Schuster left USC before graduating but later came back to attend summer classes there to work towards completing his undergraduate degree.
Juju Smith-Schuster became the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns before the age of 21 in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals after catching his third touchdown pass of the year on a 31-yard reception.
On October 29, 2017, Juju Smith-Schuster started his first game at wide receiver in his career. He had a breakout performance, recording a season-high seven receptions for 193 receiving yards and a 97-yard touchdown during a 20-15 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday Night Football. The 97-yard touchdown reception was the biggest touchdown catch in league history during the 2017 season, as well as the longest pass play in team history. Martavis Bryant, who was benched by head coach Mike Tomlin after requesting out loud for a benching, was replaced at wide receiver by Juju in the opening.
Martavis Bryant, who publicly requested a trade, was benched by head coach Mike Tomlin and replaced by Smith-Schuster in the starting lineup at wide receiver. His 193 yards were the second-highest receiving yards by a Steelers rookie behind Mike Evans’ 209 in Week 11 of 2014, and the most by any rookie in the NFL since Jimmy Orr’s 205 in 1958. For his efforts in Week 8, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Juju Smith-Schuster was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 62nd pick overall of the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the 13th USC wide receiver drafted in the previous 15 years and the youngest player chosen in the 2017 Draft.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury Record
| Date | League | Injury | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2015 | Non-NFL | Hand Metacarpal Fracture | Smith-right Schuster’s hand was fractured against Cal, necessitating surgery to install a plate and screw. He still played the next game. |
| Aug 5, 2016 | Non-NFL | Hand Finger Dislocation | Smith-Schuster dislocated his right pinky but continued to play. |
| Aug 5, 2016 | Non-NFL | Pedal Toe Sprain | During practice, Juju sprained his right big toe. He was prepared for the season opener. |
| Aug 11, 2017 | NFL | Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 | Juju Smith-Schuster left the preseason opener near the end of the first quarter with a concussion. He skipped the next exhibition. |
| Nov 16, 2017 | NFL | Thigh Hamstring Sprain/Pull Unspecified Grade 1 | Smith-Schuster was sidelined in Week 12 due to an unclear hamstring injury. |
| Oct 22, 2017 | NFL | Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 | Smith-Schuster missed only a few days in Week 7 and returned in Week 8. |
| Nov 14, 2019 | NFL | Head Cranial Concussion Grade 1 | Juju suffered a concussion against the Browns in Week 11. He was absent from one game. |
| Nov 14, 2019 | NFL | Knee Patella Sprain | Juju Smith-Schuster suffered a left knee injury against the Cleveland Browns in Week 11. Due to the injury, he missed four games. |
| Sep 23, 2020 | NFL | Knee Strain Grade 1 | Smith-Schuster missed two days of practice due to a knee injury before the Week 3 game. He was cleared to play in the game against the Texans. |
| Nov 22, 2020 | NFL | Pedal Foot | Smith-Schuster suffered a foot injury against the Jaguars in Week 11. He was on the field for the next game. |
| Sep 26, 2021 | NFL | Chest Rib Bruise | Smith-Schuster suffered a rib injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. |
| Oct 10, 2021 | NFL | Shoulder | Juju Smith-Schuster suffered a right shoulder injury against the Broncos in Week 5. He was absent from 12 games. |
Date of Birth and Age
JuJu Smith-Schuster was born on 22nd November 1996. He is 27 years old.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Net Worth
JuJu Smith-Schuster is one of the wealthiest and most well-liked football players with a $4 million net worth.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Contract
Smith-Schuster signed a four-year, $4.2 million contract with the Steelers in 2017, which included a $1.19 million signing bonus and a guarantee of $1.84 million. JuJu declined three more substantial, multi-year offers from other teams to remain with the Steelers when that contract was up for renewal. Instead, he agreed to an $8 million, one-year contract with the Steelers in March 2021.
On March 20, 2022, JuJu Smith-Schuster committed to the Kansas City Chiefs. The contract had a maximum value of $10.75 million and was for one year.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Car
JuJu obtained his driver’s license in 2017 and appears to be quite proud of his small car collection. Back then, JuJu Smith-Schuster who now has a net worth of $8 million, went from riding his pedal bike to driving a Mini Cooper. He later bought a BMW i8 in 2019, which he appears to still adore.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Social Media
On numerous social media platforms, such as TikTok, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch, Juju Smith-Schuster has established a recognizable online presence.
JuJu Smith-Schuster has streamed himself playing games like Call of Duty: WWII and Fortnite on Twitch. He took part in Drake and Travis Scott’s record-breaking Fortnite stream in 2018 with Ninja. Juju Smith-Schuster took part in a live Thursday Night Football webcast with TimTheTatman while sidelined during the 2019 season, and he got paid $100,000 for it.
Juju formed a cooperation with the well-known gaming club FaZe Clan to sell products in February 2018. His Call of Duty, Fortnite Battle Royale, and daily life films are now posted on a YouTube account under his full name, which frequently includes his French bulldog Boujee.
Juju declared in October 2020 that he will be the owner of a brand-new esports team named Team Diverge. After the 2020 NFL season is over, the club plans to start its own game company and incorporate content from other players and entertainers.
FAQ
At what age was JuJu Smith-Schuster drafted?
When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected JuJu Smith-Schuster, he was a 20-year-old with blazing eyes. He had the privilege of learning the trade from one of the best in the league, Antonio Brown, as a rookie, which is a luxury that few first-year players enjoy. When Chase Claypool was selected in 2020, the roles were reversed.
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