Seahawks Star Jaxon Smith-Njigba Is Not The Only Professional Athlete in His Family

When the Seattle Seahawks offense takes the field in Super Bowl LX tonight, much of the focus--from fans and New England Patriots defenders alike--will be on star wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. In his third pro season, Smith-Njigba continued his ascent, leading the NFL in receiving yards while winning Offensive Player of the Year and earning first-team All-Pro honors.

As impressive as the man they call JSN has been, he's not the only stellar athlete in his family. In fact, Jaxon isn't even the first Smith-Njigba to play professional sports, an honor that went to his older brother Canaan.

Who is Canaan Smith-Njigba, Jaxon Smith-Njigba's brother?

Born April 30, 1999, Canaan Smith-Njigba is almost three full years older than his brother. Unlike Jaxon, Canaan excelled on the baseball diamond, not the gridiron.

A star at Rockwall-Heath High School in Texas, Canaan Smith-Njigba was a fourth-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2017, electing to forego a commitment to the University of Arkansas to sign with the MLB powerhouse. An outfielder who throws righty and hits lefty, he played three years in the Yankees system before sitting out the 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In January 2021, Smith-Njigba was one of four Yankee prospects traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for righthanded pitcher Jameson Taillon. After rising through Double and Triple-A in the Pirates' organization, he made his MLB debut on June 14, 2022, recording his first big league hit, a pinch-hit double off St. Louis Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos.

Smith-Njigba played in three games for the Pirates in 2022 before making 15 appearances in 2023. He finished his time in Pittsburgh with five hits in 37 at-bats, along with five RBI and four runs scored.

What is Canaan Smith-Njigba up to now?

Smith-Njigba began 2024 in Triple-A with the Pirates before being released in July. He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox one month later and finished the year in Triple-A before opting for free agency following the season.

After a stint in the Puerto Rican Winter League, Smith-Njigba did not play affiliated baseball in 2025. He's still a free agent and hasn't retired yet, though at 26, his days on the diamond may be numbered.

Off the field, Canaan Smith-Njigba made headlines during this year's NFL Playoffs, trolling San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir after his brother torched Lenoir and his teammates in the NFC Divisional Round.