While the Minnesota Viking are prepping for a huge season with quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the fold. McCarthy, of course, was out for his full rookie season, so the 2025 season will really be his rookie time with the team.
Going into the 2025 season, McCarthy could really enhance the team’s offense and be the proven leader that many are hoping to see. but, at the same time, he’s going to be a busy guy, because he’ll be dealing with a major life event right at the start of the season.
The NFL season will officially kick off on September 4 with the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 4. The first Vikings game is Sept. 8 against the Bears.
J.J. McCarthy’s Life Will Change Forever
McCarthy was the No. 10 pick by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft after a big career with the Michigan Wolverines. He tore his meniscus in the preseason and missed the entire 2024 season because of that injury.
It’s difficult to imagine how crazy McCarthy’s life will be come September. He’ll be one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in the NFL, with lots of pressure resting on his shoulders as the team heads into their first season with him at the helm.
McCarthy will also be a new dad. In May, McCarthy and his fiancée, Katya Kuropas, announced that they’re expecting a baby in September. So much at once, right?
“The best surprises come when you least expect them. Our sweet baby boy is arriving in September and we couldn’t be happier,” Kuropas shared on Instagram. McCarthy responded with some heart and pray or thankful hand emojis.
Then, earlier this month, Kuropas took to Instagram again, this time to post an update on how the baby is doing. She shared some video clips with the message, “half of me + half of you.” He responded with a sweet comment, stating, “He already has the best mama in the world.”
J.J. McCarthy Gets Praise From NFL Analyst
McCarthy is turning heads around the NFL, even before he takes the field for even one snap. In a June 16 feature for Bleacher Report, analyst and expert Alex Ballentine names the best- and worst-case case scenarios for each team in the NFL heading into the new season. In the story, he notes that “it’s an offensive league and every front office goes into the offseason with a vision for how it will improve the unit for the next season.” He adds to “just look at how much money and resources teams are willing to pour into finding a quarterback, building an offensive line and retaining a star receiver.”
When talking about the best-case scenario for the Vikings, Ballentine says it’s McCarthy being an “instant upgrade over Sam Darnold.”
“One of the only things that could slow them now is J.J. McCarthy’s development,” Ballentine says. “The 22-year-old missed his rookie year with a meniscus tear, clearing the way for Darnold’s comeback season.”
He adds that “theoretically, the environment is set up even better for McCarthy, the Vikings added Will Fries, Donovan Jackson and Ryan Kelly to form a new trio on the interior of the offensive line. If McCarthy can step into the role behind that offensive line with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson and Aaron Jones at his disposal, Minnesota will be formidable.”
