J.J. McCarthy has already won his NFL debut start on the road on “Monday Night Football” by passing for two touchdowns and running for another to rally his team past his hometown Chicago Bears, an effort that earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
It might not get any better than that in terms of fairy-tale finishes or motivational beginnings for McCarthy.
But it does not take much inside information to see that McCarthy is a cauldron of intensity, seemingly able to properly channel an innate desire with considerable skill to produce in football’s biggest moments.
This is, after all, a player who is said to have worn his trademark eye black for every college football game except three against rival Ohio State so that Buckeyes coach Ryan Day reportedly could clearly see the face of the quarterback he had passed up in recruiting. In doing so, he went 3-0.
Not that McCarthy probably needs it, but in case he does: I would like to offer a motivational game-by-game calendar of sorts for the rest of 2025. The game at Chicago was obvious, but he can use the rest of the games this year to get properly fired up for the moment if he tries. Let’s call this 16 things to know:
Sunday vs. Atlanta: This one is easy. It’s McCarthy’s home regular-season debut and it’s against Michael Penix Jr., who was taken two spots ahead of him in the 2024 draft after McCarthy beat him in the college football national championship. Former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins will have a good look at all of it from the Falcons sidelines.
Sept. 21 vs. Cincinnati: It’s not Ohio State, but it is a team from Ohio.
Sept. 28 vs. Pittsburgh (in Dublin): For months, we heard speculation about Aaron Rodgers coming to Minnesota and making McCarthy wait a year to take the reins. Instead, A-Rodg wound up with the Steelers (and threw four TD passes in the opener, I might add).
