Vikings Asst. Turned Down Multiple Promotions; Would’ve Spurned More…

On Monday Night Football the Minnesota Vikings take center stage in primetime against the Chicago Bears, a game that will include the highly-anticipated debut of J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings’ 22-year-old quarterback of the future (we hope).

It’s a full-circle moment for the LaGrange, Illinois-native, whose first NFL start comes at Soldier Field, the same stadium where he first saw an NFL game (at four years old) and against the team he grew up rooting for.

This moment has been more than a year in the making, and one Kevin O’Connell and his coaching staff have put a lot of time/effort into, nobody more than quarterbacks coach, Josh McCown, one of the fastest up-and-coming assistant offensive coaches in the NFL.

Josh McCown turning down outside promotions to stay with Minnesota Vikings

In fact, according to Andrew Krammer (Star Tribune), McCown turned down multiple opportunities for offensive coordinator jobs, but turned them down to stay in Minnesota and continue to learn under Kevin O’Connell.

The 46-year-old longtime NFL backup QB also got a head coaching interview during the offseason. Had the New York Jets made him an offer, he’s not sure he would’ve accepted that either. For now, McCown told the Star Tribune, there aren’t very many jobs he would accept over his current one.

Even if the New York Jets had offered their head coaching job to Vikings quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, among 17 candidates to talk with Jets ownership about the opening this offseason, something rooted him in Minnesota. Or someone: Kevin O’Connell, and the chance to work with the reigning NFL Coach of the Year for a second season.

McCown, now 46, already has as many NFL head coaching interviews – two – as he has years of NFL coaching experience. That underscores his reputation of a likeable leader with two decades’ worth of quarterbacking lessons and a unique way of applying them.

McCown is also not rushing his own development as a coach. He declined to pursue offensive coordinator opportunities this offseason to stay in Minnesota with talented coaches, top players and a young quarterback.

Star Tribune

Obviously, McCown has a special coaching future ahead of him, but he is in no hurry to fastrack his process for short-term benefit. Still, it’s just a matter of time.

McCown’s coaching prowess goes way back

McCown’s QB coaching prowess goes all the way back to Drake Maye’s high school career, when he helped turn him into a top recruit and No. 3 overall draft pick. Last year, he helped resurrect Sam Darnold and now he gets a chance to raise JJ McCarthy from NFL scratch.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Reveals Worrisome News on Vikings Injury Report

No matter who Andrew Krammer talked to, the message remained the same. McCown connects with people and is able to cultivate relationships. That ability has helped him to develop quarterbacks, but also embody what is most important as a coach.

”He could connect with everybody, offense or defense. There’s a way of communicating, love of the game, family — all these little boxes you can check with a coach-player relationship.”

Marc Trestman (via the Star Tribune)

“Absolutely love that guy,Like an older brother to me. … I feel like our relationship continues to grow every moment we spend with each other. You can’t take for granted all the lessons he’s been through, all the situations he’s had to overcome, the resiliency he has, like, it’s something really special.”

JJ McCarthy (via the Star Tribune)

Quarterbacks and coaches set up for success with MN Vikings

In part thanks to Josh McCown, along with reigning NFL Coach of the Year Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the staff, Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks are some of the best taken care of and best coached in the entire league.

Clearly, the same can be said about the coaches at TCO Performance Center, which is one reason why guys like McCown and Brian Flores continue to stick around. Unless the perfect opportunity comes along, they are too happy to leave.

If successful in raising yet another young quarterback this year in Minnesota, the offers for Josh McCown to leave will start reaching levels too extraordinary to turning down. For now though, he’s happy to be where his feet are, and ready to put all that QB expertise into raising the Vikings’ new franchise quarterback