Former Gopher Calls for Vikings to Replace JJ McCarthy

Max Brosmer - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings fell to the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon in what unfolded as one of the ugliest QB games in my 35+ years of watching the NFL. In the center of week 11’s quarterbacking ineptitude was 2024 No. 10 overall pick JJ McCarthy.

Against the Bears, McCarthy wasn’t just underwhelming — something Vikings fans have gotten used to through nine games this season — he was downright bad. All year, he has struggled to see open receivers and throw on time.

Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears – JJ McCarthy hits rock bottom

But more recently, JJ has been losing his accuracy too, a problem that hit a new level on Sunday when McCarthy needed to complete his final five passes just to get back to a 50% completion rate, which he did, finishing 16-of-32 on the day.

Entering the fourth quarter, Minnesota trailed 16-3, in large part because of McCarthy’s Josh Freeman-like accuracy throughout the game. Going into that final drive, the Michigan alum was an absolutely brutal 10-of-24 passing for 84 yards and 2 interceptions.

Former Gopher Coney Durr calls for Vikings to play Max Brosmer

For much of Sunday afternoon, the Vikings QB was so bad that most of the football world was calling for head coach Kevin O’Connell to pull JJ McCarthy out of the game, in exchange for one-and-done Minnesota Gopher, Max Brosmer. Of those making their case online was another former Gopher, CB Coney Durr.

Max Brosmer and Coney Durr never played together at the University of Minnesota. The former was there in 2024, the latter made his name in Dinkytown from 2016 to 2021. During the peak of McCarthy’s failures today, Durr tweeted “PLAY Max Brosmer!!!”

Durr started 55 games in maroon and gold, during his six collegiate seasons. When his time as a Gopher was all said and done, the Baton Rouge, Louisiana native amassed 144 tackles, 10 TFL, 2 sacks, 26 passes defended and 4 interceptions — one of which was returned for a touchdown.

Coney Durr has tried out for multiple NFL teams, since his time as a Gopher, but has never found his way onto a roster. This past preseason, he failed to make the Houston Texans roster, in his latest attempt at making the league.

JJ McCarthy saves his job as MN Vikings starter… for one more week

Shortly after Durr and others (me) were begging Kevin O’Connell to remove McCarthy, he went 6-of-8 on his final drive for 75 yards and what would have been the game-winning touchdown pass to Jordan Addison.

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Unfortunately, 50 seconds after the Minnesota Vikings took a 17-16 lead, the Bears returned the ensuing kickoff into Vikings territory, before a few run plays got them into range for a Santos 48-yard winner at buzzer.

JJ McCarthy’s final drive may have saved his job for one more week, but he needs to get better fast because the guys inside of that locker room are going to start demanding Max Brosmer too. And once that starts, even KOC won’t be able to protect his prized first round quarterback from the locally adopted UDFA.

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