NFL Legend Accuses MN Vikings Coach of Publicly Selling Out JJ McCarthy

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JJ McCarthy, Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings are now 4-8, after their latest beatdown of the 2025 season, a 26-0 skunking at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.

While former Vikings QB Sam Darnold stood tall for the Seahawks and calmly withstood a heavy storm brought on by defensive coordinator Brian Flores, Vikings backup Max Brosmer was busy throwing the game away (4 interceptions, 0 touchdowns).

JJ McCarthy and Kevin O'Connell - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

So on Monday, when head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that JJ McCarthy is expected to be back under center for the Minnesota Vikings in week 14 against the Washington Commanders, fans celebrated right? Not exactly.

Normally, getting your starting QB back under center would be a huge boost to morale in the locker room. That is unless that QB went into concussion protocol after throwing more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (6) and completing just 54% of his passes through six starts.

Remember when Kevin O’Connell listed off JJ McCarthy’s mechanical problems?

While the fanbase is happy to see their 22-year-old franchise QB bounce out of concussion protocol so quickly, NOBODY is expecting the former National Champion to suddenly look like a competent quarterback on Sunday afternoon.

Unfortunately, among those underwhelmed by JJ McCarthy early in his NFL career is his own head coach, Kevin O’Connell. Last week, KOC publicly said that we need to start “seeing the cement dry” on a multitude of mechanical issues McCarthy has been working on, since being drafted two offseasons ago.

During an interview a few weeks ago with Paul Allen (KFAN), O’Connell open up about the many mechanical issues plaguing his young quarterback, including timing, touch, footwork and body control in the pocket.

Related: Why Did MN Vikings Release Homecoming Cinderella, Adam Thielen?

It was a rare moment of transparency from a MN Vikings head coach that normally fills his media sessions with far more fluff than actual words that mean anything of substance.

Well ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown spent about half of one segment this week discussing our favorite professional football team. I’d recommend going back and watching the entire thing yourself, if possible, because it’s must-see TV for any Vikings fan.

NFL legend calls out Minnesota Vikings head coach

First, former NFL QB Alex Smith talked about whether or not general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his obsession with building a Super Bowl caliber roster around a rookie-contract quarterback has doomed the exponential rise of this Minnesota Vikings team under 2024 NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell.

But then, the conversation on Sunday Countdown took a surprising turn when legendary linebacker Tedy Bruschi turned the conversation back on O’Connell, accusing the head coach of publicly selling out his redshirt rookie QB during his conversation with PA, above.

In my opinion, Kevin [O’Connell] calculatedly sold out the quarterback that they decided to keep, and that was JJ McCarthy. Because, when you’re talking about which way your foot’s pointing, your base, your leg kick; Kevin let everyone inside to what he was thinking about his very own first round pick quarterback, and the guy who is going to be his quarterback for the next ten years.

‘This is what’s wrong with this kid and this is why I can’t coach this kid. This is why the cement’s not drying.’ These aren’t my words…this is what Kevin O’Connell said. What I take those comments as, is maybe Kevin O’Connell wasn’t happy with the whole decision too, because we obviously know what the fundamental problems are with JJ McCarthy as a quarterback.”

Tedy Bruschi – ESPN Sunday NFL Countdown (video above)

Related: Viking Superstar Declines Interview After Loss

Was KOC too open about the deficiencies of a developing quarterback that he mostly hand-picked to lead this organization into the next phase of its chase for a Super Bowl?

It didn’t get a lot of negative attention, back when it happened, but there is no doubt O’Connell’s public undressing of McCarthy’s deficiencies feels a bit weird, in retrospect.

While I appreciate the head coach’s honesty, what good did offloading JJ’s skeletons for the football world to chew on really do, other than make Kevin O’Connell feel better in the moment.

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