Despite Losing QB Competition, J.J. McCarthy Wants to Stay With Vikings

Head coach Kevin O'Connell named Kyler Murray the starter earlier this week.

J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings takes the field prior to a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 14, 2025. Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Despite losing the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback competition, J.J. McCarthy wants to remain with the team.

The Vikings announced that Kyler Murray would start for the Vikings in week one. It is the latest bump in the road for McCarthy, the former tenth overall pick whose early career was derailed by injury and has struggled to catch on. Despite the rocky start, McCarthy maintained that he would do whatever it takes to help the team win.

“Look, [a] decision was made that was out of my control,” he said at an Aug. 12 press conference. “And obviously, every competitor wants to play, but moving forward, it’s just about continuing to work hard and just staying ready for when my number’s called.”

The Vikings took McCarthy out of Michigan with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was the fifth of six quarterbacks taken in the first round of the historic 2024 NFL Draft.

McCarthy was expected to compete for the starting job with veteran Sam Darnold, and he flashed early in the first game of the 2024 preseason; but he was diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee and missed the entire season after having surgery.

Darnold went on to revitalize his career with the Vikings, going 14–3 and leading them to the playoffs while passing for over 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Darnold signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2025, and McCarthy emerged as the starter. He led the Vikings to a 27–24 comeback win over the Chicago Bears and 2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams, but injuries cost him seven games of his sophomore campaign.

He went 6–4 as a starter, completing 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He rushed 37 times for 181 yards and 4 TDs.

In 2026, the Vikings brought in Murray and re-signed veteran backup Carson Wentz. Murray was the No. 1 pick in the 2019 Draft but struggled to catch on with the Arizona Cardinals.

Two weeks after training camp began in earnest, head coach Kevin O’Connell named Murray starter.

Kyler Murray #1 and J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings look on during an OTA workout at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minn., on May 27, 2026. David Berding/Getty Images

“In my opinion, he’s got the skill set and the abilities not only just from the standpoint of accuracy and his ability to affect the game with his athleticism, but he’s also proven to be smart, very hardworking, and to be able to take in a lot of information and churn that out,” O’Connell said at the time, adding that this announcement also allows Murray to have more time with the first-team offense during training camp.

“Now we really want to give him the opportunity to really start building a comfort level not only with the system but with the guys.”

McCarthy said he was proud of his development and deferred to his head coach on questions about what he would have had to do to win it. He said his priority was preparing himself for his next opportunity, but more importantly, for the upcoming preseason game against the New York Giants.

“Obviously disappointed,” McCarthy said on Wednesday when asked for his reaction to the announcement. “I’m a competitor, but at the end of the day, it’s in the past, and I’m moving on to the next practice, the next rep, the same mindset I had going into it, and focusing on the [New York] Giants this week.”

Despite the setback, McCarthy still believes he is an NFL starter. He wants the best for his team, and ultimately wants to stay in Minnesota.

“This is a place I want to be, and I love every single person in this building,” he said. “I love this state. I love the fan base. And I’m going to continue to just do whatever I can for this team and this organization.”

Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during Training Camp at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan, Minn., on August 1, 2026. David Berding/Getty Images

O’Connell was asked on Tuesday whether McCarthy still had a future in Minnesota, and the coach responded “absolutely.” He then pointed out that McCarthy has just 10 games of NFL experience under his belt.

“He’s holding the pen on his story,” O’Connell said of McCarthy. “We’re gonna support him and try to help him continue to improve as a young player at the most difficult position in sports.”

Ross Kelly contributed to this report.