JJ McCarthy Reveals New All-Time Favorite Teammate

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JJ McCarthy, Ryan Kelly - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings


JJ McCarthy was all smiles in front of microphones Wednesday at TCO Performance Center at day one of 2025 Minnesota Vikings training camp. Now fully recovered from the meniscus tear that derailed his rookie season before it started, the new QB1 shined on the practice field and in front of the media.

During the first training camp practice that Vikings media was allowed to attend, reports were all positive. McCarthy appeared to have full control of the offense, was moving guys around pre-snap and barking out orders like an NFL veteran.

First Vikings practice: JJ McCarthy shines… other QBs struggle

From the sounds of it, JJ’s impressive first day was amplified by how poorly his new backups, Sam Howell and Brett Rypien, looked in their first-ever training camp practice at TCO Performance Center.

Unlike the MN Vikings first team offense, which was led by McCarthy, Howell and Rypien struggled so much pre and post-snap that the second and third team offenses were in complete disarray, as noted by multiple reporters on site. Here’s how it looked via Alec Lewis (The Athletic).

Howell tossed the ball right into Ivan Pace Jr.’s hands over the middle of the field, while edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel intercepted Rypien in classic Van Ginkel fashion. Rypien responded with an accurate deep ball down the left sideline, but Howell’s troubles continued. There was a disjointed pre-snap rep. On another, Howell scanned slowly and had his pass deflected by linebacker Kobe King.

Alec Lewis – The Athletic

Before the team went out for practice on Wednesday, JJ McCarthy answered questions about his health, his teammates, his feelings regarding the upcoming season and a plethora of other things. But the conversation started with a question surrounding the 22-year-old’s growing relationship with his new center, Ryan Kelly.

JJ McCarthy, Ryan Kelly already best friends

Because McCarthy only came in with a puncher’s chance to steal the Vikings’ starting QB job at training camp last year, creating that close personal relationship with Garrett Bradbury, who was trying to form a bond with Sam Darnold too, probably wasn’t the easiest thing for a wet-behind-the-ear rookie.

On Wednesday, JJ McCarthy made it very clear that forming a strong relationship with Ryan Kelly — who’s exactly ten years his senior (32 y/o) — has not been an issue, whatsoever. He even went as far as to call Kelly “one of the most favorite teammates I’ve ever had”.

“He’s been amazing, you know, one of the most favorite teammates I’ve ever had. Just his knowledge about the game, but who he is as a man. Like, it’s really one of a kind. And just, you know, the depth of knowledge, how he attacks every single day, how he is as a dad, you know, all the things I get to learn from him on and off the field. It’s a tremendous blessing.

JJ McCarthy on his budding relationship with new center, Ryan Kelly

Related: Bears Nearly Drafted JJ McCarthy Over Caleb Williams with No. 1 Pick

The quarterback and center relationship is one of the utmost importance on the football field. From handling protections and unique defensive looks to clock management and more, it is imperative that these two players are on the same page.

Luckily for Vikings fans, it appears he and his new veteran center are having no issues getting to know each other. Ryan Kelly is known for his elite football IQ and nastiness inside the trenches, two traits that should pay off dividends for a redshirt rookie quarterback trying to operate head coach Kevin O’Connell’s complex offense.

During the offseason, the Minnesota Vikings front office made it clear that they were going to prioritize both the offense and defensive lines. Not only do they now have the best front seven in the NFL on defense, according to some experts, but they now have what appears to be a pretty impenetrable wall (if healthy) on offense too.

Not only did they add the aforementioned 4x pro bowl center, Ryan Kelly, but they also drafted Ohio State monster guard Donovan Jackson to take over at LG and brought in Kelly’s teammate from Indianapolis, Will Fries.

JJ McCarthy “feels different” this time around

Entering camp last season, JJ McCarthy was the underdog to win QB1 out of Minnesota Vikings training camp. While the winds of change were starting to whistle when he went 13/17 for 188 passing yards, 2 touchdown and 1 interception during his first ever preseason game last August vs the Raiders.

Unfortunately, JJ felt something wrong with his knee after his preseason debut, which wound up being the torn meniscus that cost him his first NFL season. But no matter how the 2024 situation did or would have turned out, there’s no doubting 2025 is a far different experience for last year’s 10th overall pick.

Related: 3 Underrated MN Vikings to Watch at Training Camp

When asked specifically about feeling the difference between this year and last, McCarthy was candid, noting that life as QB1 is just different. As Gopher football coach PJ Fleck likes to say, “when you’re the standard… you’re the standard.” And no doubt McCarthy appreciates all the reps he is getting with his fellow starters on offense.

“I feel different just because, uh, it’s a different situation being year two knowing the offense a lot better than I did when I first came in here, and knowing the guys and how they move and you know how they react to certain, you know, coaching points and just little, you know, things that go along with day to day practice and meetings ,and yeah it’s definitely a different feeling and a really good one.”

JJ McCarthy

While we all heard the rumblings over the offseason about troubles regaining his weight, and the second “procedure” that nearly sent fans straight into panic mode just months ago, those are worries are now in the past (thankfully).

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