Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s 2025 season is off to a historic start, and the Minnesota Vikings youngster could end it with some hardware, according to a poll of league executives. He is already the first NFC Offensive Player of the Week of the season.
J.J. McCarthy Predicted to Win Comeback Player of the Year Award Thanks to Kevin O’Connell
GettyJ.J. McCarthy and Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell speak before their game against the Chicago Bears.
McCarthy completed 65.0% of his passes for 143 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception against the Bears, rushing for 25 yards and 1 TD on two carries. Fittingly, his rushing score staked the Vikings to what proved to be an insurmountable lead.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler shared the poll, “asking executives and scouts to sort out who will be holding the hardware when the 2025 season ends.”
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is a key reason for the prediction about McCarthy.
“[Kevin] O’Connell will get the best out of him, and he’s got enough talent around him where he doesn’t have to do it all,” an anonymous AFC executive said, per Fowler on September 10. “They should support him with a strong running game.”
McCarthy missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus, putting him behind schedule in many ways entering his second season.
However, O’Connell and the Vikings’ coaching staff put him through several paces off the field.
Those methods included watching video playback of 2024 Pro Bowler Sam Darnold operate the offense on a virtual reality headset. On Monday, O’Connell and the Vikings complemented McCarthy with 91 rushing yards on 23 attempts between Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason.
J.J. McCarthy Delivers on Vikings Legend’s
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings walks off the field after defeating the Chicago Bears.
McCarthy won over current and former Vikings alike with his personality long before they got to see him play in a real game. One of those in the latter category? Former Vikings QB and franchise legend Tommy Kramer.
Kramer previously expressed his confidence in McCarthy, who thanked the 1986 Comeback Player of the Year winner for allowing him to wear the No. 9, and the Vikings’ outlook.
McCarthy’s performance on Monday night led to a victory lap from Kramer.
“I’ve been telling y’all,” Kramer said in a post on X after McCarthy accounted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overcame an 11-point deficit in the game on September 8. “The kid is a winner!”
McCarthy’s performance has dominated headlines, especially given that it occurred in primetime, and put the Vikings’ young passer in elite company.
It also validated what one of his former teammates said about him before the game.
J.J. McCarthy Proves Bears TE Right
GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings and Colston Loveland #84 of the Chicago Bears shake hands following their game.
McCarthy’s former college teammate and current Bears tight end Colston Loveland spoke candidly about what kind of QB his fellow 2023 CFP national champion is. Loveland also correctly suggested the Bears’ defense would “get after” McCarthy.
Most importantly, though, McCarthy showed he may just be a “good quarterback,” as Loveland said before the game.
“I feel like he’s a good quarterback,” Loveland told Clocker Sports in comments published on September 6. “Runs the system well. Hits what he’s supposed to hit. Doesn’t do too much, doesn’t do too [little]. But I know our defense got a good game plan for him, and we’re going to go get after him.”
The Bears sacked McCarthy three times on Monday night.
McCarthy found another gear in the fourth, going 6-for-8 for 87 yards and 2 TDs through the air while also tacking on a 14-yard scoring scramble. McCarthy and the Vikings will see the Bears again in Week 11 in Minnesota. They host the Atlanta Falcons in the home opener in Week 2.
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