Report: J.J. McCarthy Will Get Grudge Match in October
The Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 schedule will be officially announced on Wednesday night, but until then, eager onlookers must rely on the “leak” process.
J.J. McCarthy won’t have to wait too terribly long to face his college coach, Jim Harbaugh.
The club already knows it will travel to Europe for back-to-back showdowns in Dublin and London against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, respectively, in Weeks 4 and 5. The NFL confirmed those contests on Tuesday.
And per some semi-credible social media hints, the Vikings will take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8 at SoFi Stadium, creating a grudge match between quarterback J.J. McCarthy and his college coach, Jim Harbaugh.
Vikings at Chargers in Week 8, per Leaks
Folks already knew that Minnesota would face Los Angeles in 2025. That became inevitable when both teams finished in second place inside their divisions last season.
Now, however, social media hints indicate that the Vikings will take on the Chargers in Inglewood on Thursday, October 23rd, via Thursday Night Football. Minnesota played at the same building on Thursday Night Football last year against the Rams in late October — and lost.
The purple team will hope for a fortune reversal this go-round.
The J.J. McCarthy + Jim Harbaugh Angle
The Vikings drafted McCarthy in April 2024 because of his dazzling upside and National Championship hardware at the University of Michigan a few months prior. Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to a title, and McCarthy served as the team’s QB1.
Soon after, Minnesota pulled McCarthy from Round 1, and Harbaugh chose Los Angeles as his next stop. Harbaugh previously coached in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014. It’s also worth noting that Minnesota narrowed its head coaching search to current skipper Kevin O’Connell and Harbaugh in 2022, ultimately choosing O’Connell after his Rams — another Los Angeles team — won the Super Bowl in 2021.
So, in October, it will be McCarthy versus Harbaugh for the first time ever — under the bright lights of primetime.
Harbaugh’s Ardor for McCarthy
Harbaugh has not been shy about praising his former quarterback to the utmost.
Harbaugh said about McCarthy earlier this month, “Michigan players are beloved sons. That’s one. JJ, yeah. It will be nostalgic now, but I know once I envision playing, he is a tremendous competitor, and it’s great. You get a little nostalgic, and I am just happy for each and every one of the guys. You are talking not just now but long and trusting friendships. Viking fans are going to be very happy as well with J.J. McCarthy.”
He also mentioned earlier this offseason: “J.J. is a tone setter. He brings the energy. Great talent. Every fiber of his being is about helping the team. I can guarantee Vikings fans that he is up and at it today, attacking the day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind. I love him.”
“Just like Justin Herbert, Justin is a perfectionist as well, him and J.J. are the same, and it’s not self-promoting in a self-promotion way like they want to be great for themselves, they want to be great for their teammates.”
The guy loves McCarthy.
Bad Voodoo against Los Angeles Teams
Sadly, the Vikings have a naughty little streak intact against Los Angeles teams. It needs repair.
Minnesota has lost four consecutive contests to Los Angeles clubs since 2021 — three to the Rams and one to the Chargers in 2023. In fact, the lasting memory of Vikings football at the moment is an awful postseason loss to the Rams in January. With McCarthy on the shelf with a torn meniscus, the Vikings won 14 games in 2024, led by Sam Darnold, who now plays for the Seattle Seahawks, but in the postseason, Darnold and friends totally capitulated versus the Rams.
McCarthy must defeat Harbaugh’s team, if only to end the sorrow against Los Angeles franchises.
Janik Eckardt on McCarthy
Janik Eckardt noted on McCarthy at our affiliate site, PurplePTSD.com, in April, “Unless the franchise shockingly turns around and entertains the Aaron Rodgers rumors after all, it’s his show in 2025 and beyond. Although they haven’t come out and confirmed it, all the actions and comments from the main decision-makers have pointed towards McCarthy entering the offseason as QB1.”
“The next step, obviously, is his recovery. It was a tough knee injury, but the sophomore is good to go, according to his head coach. McCarthy is Kevin O’Connell’s first true shot at a quarterback he can morph into a franchise quarterback. Neither Kellen Mond (whom he quickly waived) nor Jaren Hall, with whom he shared about 16 months, had McCarthy’s talent. He’s also Minnesota’s first quarterback selected in the first round since Teddy Bridgewater a decade earlier.”
McCarthy has fully healed from the meniscus tear and is on track to lead the team into training camp and the preseason.
Eckardt added, “He has drawn exciting reviews from coaches and teammates. It’s an exciting time for Vikings fans because the team is loaded, and the quarterback is 22 years old, and nothing is as fun (outside of a winning football team) as seeing a young passer develop. His first NFL action will come in September.”
“Until then, he will work on some of the stuff he couldn’t while injured.”
The Vikings last toppled a Los Angeles team in Los Angeles six years ago — a beatdown of the Philip Rivers-led Chargers.
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