At the end of the 2024-25 regular season, the Minnesota Vikings were convinced that they had landed on a diamond in the rough at quarterback. Sam Darnold , who had bounced around from team to team in the NFL, finally had the first breakout season of his career as he threw for 4,319 yards and 35 touchdowns and finished with a career-best 66.2% completion rate.
The entire fanbase thought Darnold was about to be anointed as the franchise quarterback and that rookie JJ McCarthy would spend the next one to two years backing him up. However, all the goodwill that Darnold had earned over a 17-game span, he lost it in one game.
The Minnesota Vikings faced the Los Angeles Rams in the Wild Card Round and they did not just lose but faced annihilation. The 27-9 loss did not help Darnold’s prospects in the league and ultimately played a part in the Vikings shipping him off to the Seattle Seahawks. Minnesota is now fazed with the same question they had to answer last season: Who will their new starting quarterback be?
The immediate response is JJ McCarthy because the former Michigan quarterback missed out on an entire season due to a meniscus injury. There is a possibility of him returning to be the starter, but nothing is confirmed.
On a recent appearance on The Up and Adams Show with Kay Adams, McCarthy revealed that the Vikings have yet to tell him that he will be starting. He is grateful for the team’s reluctance to confirm the news because McCarthy wants to compete and earn the job.
They haven’t told me, I’m happy they didn’t because I try to earn it every single day and I never want that to be given to me that’s such a privilege and opportunity to give me that chance and I’m just going to make the most of it.
JJ McCarthy said
It is evident that McCarthy is humble and wants to earn the position rather than have it handed to him.
Kevin O’Connell has yet to decide who the next quarterback of Minnesota will be
The Vikings will not be in a position to pick a talented quarterback in the NFL Draft. With their 24th overall pick, they would be better off prioritizing other positions that need improvement, such as their offensive line and cornerback.
It should be safe to presume that JJ McCarthy will be starting for them next season, right? Well, there is just one catch: A certain first-ballot Hall of Famer continues to float his services during free agency.
Aaron Rodgers has yet to pick his next team, and with just two teams expected to potentially land him, the Vikings or the Steelers. However, his odds of landing in Minnesota are low. Notable NFL Insider Tom Pelissero stated it is “Pittsburgh or wait” for Rodgers, which means that the Vikings are not too keen on pursuing the four-time MVP after the season he had.
If Rodgers does find himself walking the Brett Favre path and joins the Vikings next season, it would still be great for McCarthy. He will gain a valuable opportunity to learn from one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
The last quarterback who backed up Aaron Rodgers before taking a snap in the league is now thriving in Green Bay. Jordan Love benefitted from sitting on the bench and soaking up Rodgers knowledge. It would be fair to assume the same in the case of McCarthy.
