JJ McCarthy’s Leadership on Full Display in Vikings Return; O’Connell Giddy…

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Kevin O'Connell coaching up JJ McCarthy and teammates - Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings won their first game of the 2025 NFL preseason, casually disposing of the Houston Texans 20-10 in an exhibition contest that seemed to reveal a measurable difference in depth talent between the two teams.

There’s only so much you can take from an exhibition game where half of both teams’ starters didn’t play, and the 1st stringers who did were only on the field for one, maybe two drives. Nonetheless, we learned a little bit about the Vikings’ quarterback room from top to bottom.

Starter JJ McCarthy got just one drive, but he was able to throw in multiple third down situations and extend a drive with his legs on fourth down. He went 4-of-7 for 30 yards. While his accuracy was a bit off the entire drive and he missed one ‘gotta have it’ throw on 3rd down, the redshirt rookie had a pretty good day overall.

Kevin O’Connell elated with JJ McCarthy’s preseason return

He appeared calm and in control for the entirety of his only drive. McCarthy made good reads and went through his progressions on time. Overall, MN Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell came away impressed and gushed over his new QB1 after the game.

“I love the fact that we were able to execute and hit an explosive in the play-pass game; I love the fact that we converted some third downs; I love the fact that on fourth down he used his legs to steal [a first down].

I think there’s just a level of composure and poise to how he ran the show that was exactly what I was looking for, and now we go back to work. It’s obviously a checkpoint for our whole team. But [for] JJ — we got our first chance since last year [to have the] headset, communication in real time, play clock, all of us coaches on the sideline, him running the show — and I thought he did a really nice job with that.”

Kevin O’Connell on JJ McCarthy’s 2025 preseason debut

In the final seconds of the above clip, O’Connell goes on to talk about how he, much like everyone watching yesterday at U.S. Bank Stadium or on TV, wanted to see JJ McCarthy play more vs the Houston Texans.

Unfortunately, with joint practices scheduled this week against the New England Patriots, Minnesota’s head coach did not want to keep other Vikings starters in the game more than one drive. And logically, once the rest of the first team exited, it made little sense to keep the future of the organization in.

Leadership of new Minnesota Vikings QB1 apparent on U.S. Bank Stadium sideline

While Minnesota’s head coach was ecstatic over how McCarthy played while operating the Vikings’ first team offense, it was how JJ lead from the sideline, after taking his pads off for the day. In the year-plus since JJ McCarthy was drafted, we’ve seen and heard about his high-level leadership skills repeatedly.

Thus, it was no surprise when the 22-year-old former Michigan Wolverine could be seen jumping into teammates and running to congratulate former Gopher Max Brosmer, when he threw his first ever NFL touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter.

Related: MN Vikings New Veteran Carted Off With Injury

Brosmer had arguably the most impressive afternoon of all Vikings quarterbacks, completing 5-of-8 passes for 47 yards, one touchdown and a 118.2 QB Rating, the highest of any of the four Minnesota quarterbacks. Sam Howell had a good night too, going 11-of-13 for 105 yards and a 100.3 QB Rating.

Both guys, on paper, played much better than JJ McCarthy, whose lone drive with the starters produced just three of the Vikings’ 20 points in the game. His 67.6 QB rating fell far short of Howell and Brosmer’s too.

But as you can see above, once he came out of Saturday’s contest vs Houston, JJ’s performance compared to his QB teammates could not have been further from the front of his mind. Instead, it appeared McCarthy was just as happy to see other Vikings quarterback succeed, as he would have been had he thrown the touchdowns.

McCarthy is a true leader, who knows how much pressure his backup quarterbacks have been under during training camp, as questions swirl around whether or not Minnesota needs a more reliable option in case something should happen to the future of their former top pick and franchise QB.

JJ McCarthy talks about on his support for MN Vikings QBs

After the exhibition contest, JJ McCarthy spoke with reporters gathered at U.S. Bank Stadium. After going over his drive and the emotions that overcame him beforehand, after a year of recovery from meniscus surgery, McCarthy was asked about the excitement he felt while watching both Brosmer and Howell ball out.

“Man, I was just so happy for my guys. Seeing them get in there, everyone’s fighting for a job. We’ve got a 90-man roster and there’s many guys that should be on this team. So I was just so thrilled to see Sam, Ryp, Max do their thing out there and the rest of the crew…I’m just so happy to be a Viking, so happy to be a part of this organization and [ready] to move forward with this special group.”

JJ McCarthy on pulling for his teammates during Texans win

Related: What We Learned About the MN Vikings’ QB Situation vs Texans

While JJ McCarthy’s physical performance on the field Saturday probably warrants a B grade, at best, everything else he displayed to fans, coaches and media members gets a hard A+.

From afar, McCarthy looked poised and in control of his surroundings. O’Connell’s comments after the game confirmed as much. And no matter how he plays or how he is feeling about his own game, we are quickly learning that one thing we can always count on JJ’s intangibles.

At just 22, McCarthy seems to already have mastered the qualities and subtleties of QB leadership (preparation, QB1 demeanor) that are much more difficult to learn at the NFL level. Thus, if JJ can develop over the next few years to become a more accurate and efficient passer, the young Minnesota Vikings quarterback has a chance to be great.

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