In the wake of the Minnesota Vikings’ exit from the 2024 playoffs, the buzz around the team’s quarterback situation has reached a fever pitch. Quarterback Sam Darnold is set to hit free agency in March after leading the Vikings to an impressive 14-3 record.

Yet, with Minnesota’s eye firmly on the future, the prospect of Darnold’s return to the team is anything but certain. The drafting of J.J.

McCarthy, the talented quarterback out of Michigan, during last year’s NFL Draft has only added intrigue to this storyline.

On Thursday, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell offered some telling insights during his appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show.” When discussing the team’s outlook for the 2025 season, O’Connell’s comments suggested a clear trajectory for their quarterback situation.

“The idea is this,” O’Connell explained, “We’re evaluating how we’re going to move forward and put the best possible team together in 2025 and beyond. We know we’re excited about J.J.

McCarthy. He confirmed a lot of the things, in a very short amount of time, that we had hoped to see from him before unfortunately getting hurt.

Then Sam took advantage of his opportunity and has really put himself as probably the premier player at the [quarterback] position going into free agency. Sam’s going to have some opportunities.”

What does this mean for the Vikings? It appears they’re gearing up to move forward with McCarthy as their starter, a move hinted at even before Darnold’s stellar 2024 performance. While O’Connell didn’t outright say that Darnold’s time in Minnesota is coming to an end, his emphasis on McCarthy’s potential and Darnold’s prospects in free agency provides a pretty clear picture.

The plan to elevate McCarthy hasn’t wavered, even after Darnold’s impressive season. O’Connell is known for choosing his words deliberately, and his recent statements seem to signify a commitment to making McCarthy the cornerstone of their future.

As the storyline unfolds, all eyes will be on how the Vikings navigate this pivotal decision at the quarterback position. Darnold may have solidified his status as a top free agent candidate, but Minnesota seems poised to pass the torch to McCarthy, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in Vikings history.