Joseph Lamont Jefferson (born June 8, 1981) is a former American football wide receiver and former Nationalist politician, who served one term as the US Representative for Georgia's 2nd district. A native of Georgia and graduate of the University of Georgia, he was selected in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Sahalee Storm and became a prolific receiving threat for them over three seasons as part of a wide receiver tandem with star Chad Johnson, winning three Super Bowls (XXXVIII, XXXIX, and XL). He was traded to his hometown Atlanta Cardinals in 2006 and emerged as new quarterback Peyton Manning's top receiving target, catching 80 receptions for 1,476 yards and 18 touchdowns, his career best and earning a third trip to the Super Bowl (XLII) and his fourth straight All-Pro Selection, though the Cardinals would be defeated by the Chargers. Jefferson played five more years as a Cardinal before retiring after the 2011 season, with four more 1,000 yard seasons despite mediocre play from the Cardinals.
In 2014, the previously apolitical Jefferson announced he would run for Congress in Georgia's rural, southern 2nd District - where he grew up - as a Nationalist, surprising many observers. His announcement was thought to have encouraged longtime incumbent Ed Harbison to retire, but his campaign was seen as being an uphill one until the FBI unveiled charges late against his opponent, Wayne Jones, that allowed him to narrowly win. Jefferson served in the 114th Congress having been the only Nationalist in the country to pick up a Democratic seat. He was defeated in 2016 by Carolyn Hugley. Jefferson subsequently started a podcast dedicated to Georgia sports and politics, Dirty South Today.