Don’t let the stoicism or meditation fool you.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy can flip the switch at will, flashing heightened emotions that fueled a comeback win over the Chicago Bears on Monday night.
Tom Brady addressed McCarthy’s fiery emotions from the game.
“I absolutely love it when I see that type of emotion,” Brady told Colin Cowherd on Thursday, September 11. “I think it brings you to a higher level of focus.”
While Brady admitted that he didn’t seem as emotional on the surface, that intensity was needed to rise to the task.
“That game is all about emotion, being at a feverish pitch, but also controlled. I could get there emotionally in a way that didn’t look like it on my face,” Brady said. “I think J.J. just expresses it a little bit more. I love that aspect of his game. He’s just got to keep that going for a long time. I believe that is part of your condition, and that ability to elevate your teammates in a big moment.
“When you’re electrified as a player, you play with the most focus, the most anticipation. Everything ends up being at the highest sense of alertness. I love that aspect of his game, he’s just got to keep that going for a long time. I believe it’s part of your conditioning—that ability to elevate your teammates as well in those big moments. I love seeing that from a Michigan man.”
Former Vikings Teammate Speaks on the ‘Maniac’ in J.J. McCarthy
Leading up to Week 1, McCarthy was an unknown to the NFL world, which had to come to an awakening that many in Minnesota had seen under the surface.
Just ask former Vikings safety Cam Bynum.
“All the stories about how much of a maniac J.J. is, all those stories came true, Bynum said on the “Kay Adams Show.” “He made those stories be real. People may call those stories, ‘OK, he’s just putting on an act.’ But when he went out there and did what he did in the fourth quarter, it’s like, ‘Alright you can’t say nothing about J.J. McCarthy’s mindset.’ It was beautiful to watch.”
J.J. McCarthy Builds on Self-Belief After Bears Win
Getty J.J. McCarthy
Pivoting off a 14-win quarterback in Sam Darnold is not for the faint of heart; the Vikings had to believe in McCarthy.
National pundits called the Vikings’ decision-making into question when they made it clear McCarthy would be their starter for the 2025 season.
While head coach Kevin O’Connell admitted there is a notion that players must prove themselves on the field before they’re fully embraced, he said he does not operate from that perspective.
“I’ve just tried to lean on the fact that a lot of the guys have the belief they do and had it before we took the field on Monday night,” O’Connell said Wednesday, per ESPN. “They hopefully have reasons beyond just the fact that we all believe J.J. is made of the right stuff, and we all believe he would respond in those moments.”
For McCarthy, winning over the locker room with his late-game heroics was special — but his efforts weren’t to curry favor in Minnesota.
“I feel like it was more proving it to myself,” McCarthy said, “because I feel like this team, their belief in me is something I tremendously appreciate. … Being able to really show who I am in the biggest moment was something that was really cool, but it was more just about proving it to myself.”
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