J.J. McCarthy missed his whole rookie season with a torn meniscus, and the Minnesota Vikings’ first selection of the 2024 draft is just looking to get back to play. The Vikings traded up to select McCarthy with the No. 10 overall pick.
However, 2024 free agent signing Sam Darnold played well and earned Pro Bowl honors. There are some issues regarding whether or not the Vikings are ready to turn the keys over to McCarthy.
The rookie knows Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell will not simply give him the position.
“Coach O’Connell, he’s one of the most genuine guys I know, and our conversations have just been nothing [but] about the greatest thing for the Minnesota Vikings. At the end of the day, there’s a lot of things that are certainly above my pay grade, and some things above his pay grade. And he’s the one that has the pen last on the field, and that’s about all I know,” McCarthy told Rich Eisen on “The Rich Eisen Show” on February 4.
“All I can ask for is a fair opportunity. That’s the one thing that I feel like everybody’s given, and it’s fundamental. And when money comes involved, things get difficult and reps get skewed, and there’s different elements that come into the whole political scene that everyone talks about.”
“I really just have to focus on controlling what I can control,” McCarthy told Eisen. “My feelings don’t matter. I’m not getting any grace. There’s no sympathy. This is the big leagues, and just being able to approach it with a just very focused tunnel vision on just the task at hand – which is that workout that day, that film study, that extra little thing I’m going to do for my fiance that day – and just really just remaining in the moment. Because that offers me the most peace of mind through all this.”
McCarthy spoke on the show as part of his association with Sleep Number, which McCarthy says helps him manage his ADHD.
He also verified to Eisen that he is “ahead of schedule” in his recuperation from knee surgery.
“I’m feeling fantastic … Couldn’t be in a better situation, honestly — emotionally, physically, spiritually, and we’re just continuing to stack days at this point. And with about 67 days till OTAs, we got a lot of time but not a lot of time to spend, so. We’re enjoying it though,” McCarthy told Eisen.
“It’s been really hard if I’m going to be straight up. Going from 15-0, national champion to your season ending and being a part of being a part of – but somewhat not a part of, being on IR – that magnificent season that Minnesota had last year, and that we had. And just being able to actually observe and feel what it was like to have a successful team in the NFL, and also see some ways that we could always improve.”
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“For that, it was an invaluable experience and, ultimately, a blessing. It really wasn’t a blessing in disguise the more I think back on this last year,” McCarthy said. “The hardest part was seeing all my brothers go out there every single Sunday, Monday, Thursday and not be able to put up the armor with them.”
McCarthy had two procedures. The first was to mend the meniscus. The second was after he suffered some swelling throughout his recuperation.
Despite the additional surgery, McCarthy has maintained his trajectory to be ready for OTAs.
Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings takes the field before a game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Darnold is the greatest domino for McCarthy and the Vikings. He could be the only player standing between McCarthy and a starting job. Darnold served as an example for this young Vikings teammate, McCarthy, in 2024.
“Mostly just how he handles success,” McCarthy said Eisen when asked what he learned from Darnold. “For me, it was more the observation of it and just witnessing how he was the same guy every single day. He had this great ability to genuinely not care too much and not care too little. And that was something that I battle with since I care so much. And then I find myself in situations when things doesn’t really go your way – which is inevitable – and you kind of get down on yourself and the critic gets a bit louder.
“He had a great ability to just keep the main thing the main thing and just focus on attacking each day. And he performed extremely well this year, so it was really nice to witness that.”
“Everyone’s on their own individual quarterback journey. And to be a part of his [Darnold’s] at the time it was is a great blessing,” McCarthy said. “A lot of experiences, lessons that I’m going to carry with me throughout the rest of my career.”
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