The Minnesota Vikings have had somewhat of a rocky season, which has been marred by injuries and inconsistent play from the quarterback position, with veteran Carson Wentz and second-year gunslinger J.J. McCarthy spending time under center throughout the first 10 games of the 2025 NFL season.
Although he’s shown flashes of brilliance while running the show under center this season, McCarthy is far from a finished product, as the young quarterback still has a lot to learn. The Michigan product has struggled to play consistently well, prompting some public criticism as well as questions about whether he’s the real deal and the future face of the franchise.
Vikings QB Coach Blasts Hall of Famer Cris Carter
GettyFormer receiver Cris Carter of the Minnesota Vikings.
McCarthy tends to struggle throughout games and then show his true potential in big moments, which has led some to believe he can excel in clutch situations. However, others haven’t been impressed, namely Vikings legend Cris Carter.
Carter felt compelled to respond to former NFL player Emmanuel Acho, who praised McCarthy’s “clutch gene,” as the Hall of Famer was more focused on the young quarterback struggling in the first hour of the game. This comment from Carter sparked a strong reaction from McCarthy’s personal quarterback coach, Greg Holcomb, who didn’t hold back on social media via the Vikings Fan Page’s X account.
Apparently, Holcomb either felt bad about going at Carter or was asked by the Vikings brass to apologize publicly, as he issued the following apology on social media.
“I want to offer my sincere apology for my recent remark directed toward Mr. Carter,” Holcomb said, “in which I referred to him as a ‘[expletive] clown’ in response to his comments about the Vikings quarterback play. While I will always stand up for someone I love like my own son, my choice of words was completely unacceptable.”
Although this seems sincere, Holcomb’s apology has been deleted, which keeps the drama in full swing in Minnesota moving forward.
J.J. McCarthy Continues to Get Support From Vikings Brass
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings.
In five games played during the 2025 campaign thus far, McCarthy has led the Vikings to two wins and three losses, which is obviously not ideal for a team hoping to secure a playoff spot this season.
McCarthy has racked up 842 passing yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions over the course of five games. He’s also rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries, showing the ability to hurt opposing defenses with his legs as well as his arm.
Despite the positives, McCarthy has a lot of work to do to win over both Vikings fans and his critics, such as Carter. However, he’s got plenty of time to turn things around as long as head coach Kevin O’Connell remains confident in the 22-year-old’s ability to be the leader they are looking for under center for the foreseeable future.
All indications seem to be that O’Connell is a big supporter of McCarthy, which bodes well for his long-term future in Minnesota.
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