No Lights Will Be Too Bright for J.J. McCarthy
Quarterbacks across the NFL have always been the focal point of headlines and the biggest stories, and rightfully so. Playing the position at a high level requires a skill set that sometimes leaves even the top executives across the league scratching their heads.
No Lights Will Be Too Bright for J.J. McCarthy
In Minnesota, this is no different. Vikings fans have witnessed firsthand the highs and lows of the quarterback position. From miracle seasons, catastrophic injuries, Brett Favre (and now Aaron Rodgers) storylines, and even Joe Webb starting a playoff game, the quarterback position has ebbed and flowed religiously.
For the first time in a long time, it finally feels like there’s some stability at the quarterback position for the Vikings. That might seem crazy considering the offseason talk has been about who will be the backup quarterback in Minnesota. However, Head Coach Kevin O’Connell has set up a dream scenario for a young quarterback.
Since 2022, when O’Connell took over the reins in Minnesota, he’s squeezed every ounce of potential out of his starting quarterbacks. He kept the Vikings competitive with Josh Dobbs, had Kirk Cousins playing at an MVP level, and completely rejuvenated the career of Sam Darnold.
Now entering the 2025 season, the Vikings are handing the keys to 22-year-old J.J. McCarthy. Last year’s 10th overall selection in the NFL Draft is coming off a season-ending knee injury that limited him to only seeing action in one preseason game. This may scare some Vikings fans due to the history around the position, but the Head Coach is steering the ship in the right direction.
O’Connell is already on record stating they found their franchise quarterback in McCarthy, but he continued his praise of the former Wolverine with Kevin Clark on “This is Football” earlier this offseason.
The continued endorsements from the man known as a quarterback whisperer should have Vikings fans excited for the future. But in all reality, the future is now in Minnesota.
It’s clear that McCarthy has his coach’s support, but the reasoning behind his future success goes far beyond that. On top of being a proven winner at every level of football he’s played, the new Vikings quarterback had several exciting traits about him when coming out of Michigan last year.
McCarthy plays the position with elite athleticism, finds ways to escape the pocket, but still focuses on keeping his eyes downfield. He’s still able to deliver the ball with zip while maneuvering around pass rushers, and he’s not afraid to take hits. He’s an accurate passer and understands how to play inside and outside structure.
During his time in Ann Arbor, McCarthy gained experience running an NFL-style system while playing under Jim Harbaugh. Although it was a run-first offense, McCarthy was at his best on weighted downs (what O’Connell was talking about in the video above). He also understands the importance of taking care of the football, totaling just nine interceptions in his two seasons as a starter with Michigan.
Despite being injured all of last season, McCarthy has been praised by several of his teammates for his leadership abilities. Listen to what Vikings RB Aaron Jones had to say about it during an interview on Good Morning Football.
It’s been put on record by a handful of NFL players and coaches that Jones is a great teammate and locker room presence, so his opinion on McCarthy shouldn’t be taken lightly. Even though he spent his entire rookie season on IR, it’s pretty clear the new starting quarterback has already left an impact on the Vikings locker room. And it should be expected that his understanding of the offense will benefit from his redshirt rookie season.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell knew going into last year’s draft how important it was to get the quarterback decision correct. They’ve done a great job of building out the roster so a younger quarterback of their choosing could slide in and hit the ground running. That time is now, and they’ve pushed their chips all-in on McCarthy.
This might not always be the case with younger quarterbacks, but it’s fair to expect success early on in McCarthy’s career, given the system and roster built around him and the traits he brings to the table.
From how he’s already introduced himself to the state of Minnesota, it doesn’t feel like he’d want it any other way.
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