All About Seahawks Wide Receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba's Brother, MLB Player Canaan Smith-Njigba

NEED TO KNOW

• Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba has one brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba
• Canaan is a former MLB player for the Pittsburgh Pirates
• Canaan and Jaxon are "best friends"

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has earned plenty of praise since making his NFL debut as a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, but he has his brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, to thank for his love of football.

Canaan was born in April 1999, and Jaxon arrived almost three years later in February 2002. Their father played college football himself, but after Canaan played as a child, Jaxon wanted to get involved.

Their close relationship has continued through their teenage years and into adulthood, with Jaxon and Canaan supporting each other's athletic careers. After Jaxon was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, Canaan told him he was “not only my brother, but you’re my best friend” in an NFL video.

Canaan continued to play football as a teenager, but baseball was the sport where he truly thrived. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2017 and made his MLB debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2022.

Here’s everything to know about Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, and his bond with the Seattle Seahawks star.

Canaan and Jaxon grew up in Texas

Canaan was born in Dallas on April 30, 1999, to Maada Smith-Njigba and Jami Smith. Jaxon is his arrived almost three years later on Feb. 14, 2002.

Canaan has his dad, Maada, to thank for his interest in baseball. While he was growing up, the two would watch Rockwall-Heath High School baseball games in North Texas together, Canaan told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in January 2021.

Canaan helped get Jaxon into football

On the other hand, Canaan was the one to introduce Jaxon to football. Canaan played the sport when he was younger, and Jaxon started when he was 3 years old because he wanted to get on his brother’s team.

"They had to do something with me," Jaxon told King 5 News in December 2024. "My brother was playing ball and I would run out there with no helmet ... try to play and they're like, 'OK, we're gonna find you a team.' So, yeah, I was 3 years old and I was hooked ... I just love, love everything about it.”

Canaan played baseball in high school

Canaan went on to attend Rockwall-Heath, where he played football and baseball.

During his time there, he was twice selected to the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team, as well as the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Team and the 12-5A All-District Team. He also played summer ball with the Dallas Tiger-Woods Team.

In his senior year, he walked 57 times in 43 games, which was the ninth-highest total in U.S. prep history at the time. His coach, Greg Harvey, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in January 2021, “His plate discipline was so good that he just wouldn’t swing at bad pitches. Being an 18-year-old boy, to have the discipline to not just want to put on a show, was something I admired.”

Harvey told the outlet that his old student was “a humble guy, but he’s also a proud guy." He also revealed that Canaan has a passion for the game Connect Four.

“He was in the library almost every day just challenging people to play him," he said. "It was hilarious ... he’d challenge anybody who walked through the door. ‘C’mon, you can’t beat me. I’m the best ever.’ ”

Canaan was drafted by the New York Yankees in 2017

Canaan was committed to play baseball at the University of Arkansas to play baseball after graduating high school, but in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB Draft, he was selected by the New York Yankees instead, per his MLB bio.

He made his professional debut with one of the team’s affiliates, then called the Gulf Coast League Yankees, and then played with the Staten Island Yankees and the Charleston RiverDogs.

When playing for the RiverDogs, fans voted him the Top Dog of the Year. On Instagram, Canaan shared a photo of himself with his teammates, writing in the caption, “Another season in the books. Thank you @chasriverdogs fans for selecting me as the Top Dog of the Year. #Ontothenext.”

Canaan made his MLB debut in 2022

In January 2021, Canaan was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with three of his Yankees teammates, per ESPN. The following June, he was promoted to the major leagues, and he registered his first major league hit on June 14, 2022, against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to 247 Sports.

He played in three games before suffering a wrist fracture. He played 15 games the following year, according to his MLB bio, before being designated for assignment in 2024.

In August 2024, Canaan signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, playing for the Birmingham Barons and the Charlotte Knights, but that November, he elected free agency. He remains a free agent today.

Canaan has close bonds with his parents and brother

Canaan has always made sure to pay tribute to the ones who raised him. When he signed with the New York Yankees in September 2017, Canaan shared a series of photos of himself with Jami on Instagram, writing, “People wanted you to give me up for adoption because they thought you couldn't raise me at 17. Thank you for proving them wrong and thank you for being my number 1. Can't wait to retire you young❤️.”

Two years later, he shared another photo of them together, adding in the caption, “Mom stop I’m grown now.”

He also shares snaps of his dad online, writing alongside a photo of them together in January 2019, “‘When are you going to put me on your social media’ hope you happy now pops.”

Canaan and his brother have also remained close into adulthood. In a video posted by the NFL ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft, Canaan called Jaxon the “hardest worker that I know” and told his brother that he's "so, so, so, so, so, so proud."

When Jaxon was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, Canaan shared a photo with their parents, writing, “It was never easy... but you made it work. We are proud of you J$N."

Read the original article on People