The last time we heard from Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was early January, after a season-ending victory over the Packers.
McCarthy answered short-term questions about throws he made in that game, plus the decision he made to exit early after pain from an injury to his throwing hand became too much to bear.
The second-year Vikings QB also answered plenty of questions about his long-term future, including this response when asked if he thought he had gained the trust of the organization’s decision-makers:
“In my opinion, I feel like I have, but at the end of the day, they have their own opinion, they have their own perspective, they see things different. ... I just feel confident going into this offseason and content with where I’m at, because I truly feel like I know they know who I am as an individual and, you know, the potential and the capability that this offense could have with me at the helm,” McCarthy said. “But at the end of the day, it’s all about the guys and, you know, from here on out if I’m here, if I’m not, I love every single one of those guys and had a freaking blast playing for them.”
McCarthy’s erratic and injury-marred season was the backdrop for that question and answer. And a lot has happened since then — enough for me to wonder on Friday’s Daily Delivery podcast just where McCarthy’s head is at now.
Let’s briefly review some of what has happened since we last heard from McCarthy:
- A little more than a week after that final game against the Packers, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and then-GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had a season-in-review news conference. Both of them talked about creating more competition at the QB spot and building a deeper quarterback room than they had in 2025. While that was more of a common-sense thing than a revelation, it confirmed that McCarthy is far from being the chosen starter in 2026.
- On Jan. 20, McCarthy turned 23. The band Blink-182 once asserted that nobody likes you at that age in the song “What’s My Age Again?” (which I distinctly remember because it came out the year I turned 23). It can be an age of perceived immaturity and overconfidence. McCarthy, who became a father in the midst of last season, will need to channel all the best of himself this offseason if he’s going to make it.
- On Jan. 30, 17 days after participating in the aforementioned news conference about the future of the organization, Adofo-Mensah was fired. The move was more surprising in its timing than its reasoning. But one thing is for sure: McCarthy lost an ally when the GM who drafted him was dismissed, and it couldn’t have felt good to see the handling of the QB spot tied to KAM’s failures.
- On Feb. 8, the QB who led the Vikings to 14 wins when McCarthy was an injured rookie in 2024 helped Seattle win a Super Bowl. Sam Darnold shouldn’t really have anything to do with McCarthy, but the optics of what might have been in Minnesota caused plenty of chatter.
- Now it’s impossible to wade into the sports talker sphere without finding an opinion on McCarthy, what the Vikings should have done last year and/or what the Vikings should do at QB this offseason. Here’s former Vikings great Jared Allen. And former Vikings linebackers Eric Kendricks and Anthony Barr. Who knows how much of that filters down to McCarthy, but it is probably more than zero.
- Reading Ben Goessling’s analysis of the Vikings roster and salary-cap situation, it’s hard not to look past this: The plan was set up to have a cheap QB. McCarthy fits that bill. Can the Vikings afford to substantially upgrade their QB room? Can they afford not to?
- Also on Friday’s podcast, Star Tribune Twins writer Bobby Nightengale joined me from spring training. There was plenty of early news, including some bullpen additions.
- The Gophers women’s basketball team continues to surge, and columnist Chip Scoggins has some good reporting on the reasons why.
- Patrick Reusse spinning a tale? It doesn’t get much better than that.
- A 24-team College Football Playoff? Here’s what it might look like.
