Teammates have gravitated to J.J. McCarthy, and the Minnesota Vikings’ second-year quarterback has drawn some lofty comparisons. More importantly, McCarthy has shown signs of growth after his second offseason with the Vikings.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell noted an increased comfort level in his young QB.
He also praised McCarthy for taking what he has learned and being able to apply it during the Vikings’ offseason program.
“I think he’s comfortable in the core foundation of the system much more. Everything was new last year, and we saw him show some real improvements in certain areas throughout the early part of training camp last year. But now, he’s got all that work banked, and then we were able to, with how we handle the spring, there’s a lot of reps. Not always full speed, but there is a lot of banked reps that he can fall back on against our defense within the new updates, and the new changes that we’ve kind of implemented into the scheme,” O’Connell told reporters on July 22.
“The quarterback position, so much is a ‘do your job’ from a consistency standpoint, footwork, technique, feet, and eyes. Progressions and understanding the situation of a play, a drill, a sequence of plays, and just kind of being able to absorb all that as experience in real time. And then, the best part of training camp is you get to go out tomorrow, and do it all over again, and apply the things that you’re learning in real time.”
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“This is a massive time for all of us. It’s a great time for J.J. and I to continue our rapport together, not only on the practice field, but in the meeting rooms,” O’Connell said. “Quarterbacks have been here since Sunday night. So, you know, they’re already off to a great start there.”
McCarthy and the Vikings will have their first practice of this year’s training camp on Wednesday, July 23.
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Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips compared McCarthy to Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen. Phillips cited the way that the two QBs comport themselves. O’Connell, whose reputation as a “QB killer” ended with McCarthy in 2024, expounded upon that.
O’Connell cited McCarthy’s work ethic among possible reasons for the comparison.
“Just a presence, leadership. I challenge our team every year. Leadership comes from all aspects of our team, our building, our organization to positively impact each other. And J.J. has proven from Day 1, after selecting him, that he has that. We knew that before we were lucky enough, fortunate enough to select him, that he had that kind of makeup, and I think the teammates here have responded to that,” O’Connell said.
“The one thing about it is we feel like we’ve built a team with leadership on both sides of the ball, with experience on both sides of the ball, all designed to help him be comfortable in his role. But also challenging him to attack what that’s going to look like from a production, leadership [and] performance standpoint.”
Minnesota added defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen to Phillips’ group.
The Vikings took similar action along the offensive line, adding former Indianapolis Colts veteran center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries to bolster McCarthy’s protection.
“Just what that daily feel is, is what I’m probably most excited about this phase for J.J., and really our team as a whole as we start building kind of the 2025 version of this team,” O’Connell said.
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McCarthy also has a top-flight set of skill players at his disposal, led by wide receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. O’Connell also noted his joy in seeing McCarthy and his teammates get together during the break between the offseason program and training camp.
Jefferson and McCarthy’s lockers are right next to each other. Addison was part of the group McCarthy worked out with away from the Vikings’ facilities.
“I think all of his teammates have kind of recognized he’s in the building a lot. He has been. He’s absolutely had a phenomenal offseason from the time before the offseason program started through the nine weeks that we were allowed to be on the grass. And then, I think it’s been awesome this summer seeing these guys getting together, working,” O’Connell said. “You feel the energy and the enthusiasm, not only that J.J. has brought to the group, but that they’re reciprocating right back to him.”
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It certainly helps that McCarthy laid the foundation during the 2024 offseason.
McCarthy made it to the preseason in 2024, tearing his meniscus in the Vikings’ opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. To that point, though, there was a growing belief internally that McCarthy could push former starter Sam Darnold for the starting job.
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McCarthy got hurt, and Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-win season. The latter also earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl games.
This year, McCarthy can apply what he learned last year while watching, but as QB1.
