Many on the outside are already completely out of the J.J. McCarthy business. However, internal belief in the Minnesota Vikings quarterback hasn't wavered, according to the club's star right tackle, Brian O'Neill.
Much has been made about McCarthy's turbulent transition from college to the pros. He hasn't lived up to his lofty billing as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 draft thus far, to say the least. But it's important to keep things in perspective, as O'Neill graciously reminded us during a recent appearance on the Green Light with Chris Long podcast.
There's hardly much of a sample size to take a definitive stance on whether McCarthy can be the Vikings' long-term answer under center. Speaking from experience, O'Neill knows it's too early to give up on such a young, inexperienced player.
"If I was judged after my first 10 games in the NFL, I'm not playing right now," O'Neill stated. "It's still so fresh, and he's only going to continue to get better. ... You hear the term 'lose the locker room,' [but] he had the locker room more than anybody I’d seen ever."
Brian O'Neill and the Minnesota Vikings aren't giving up on J.J. McCarthy just yet
Contrary to speculation that McCarthy's struggles in 2025 led to tension in Minnesota, the squad rallied around him. It actually sounds like his ups and downs galvanized the group, if O'Neill's comments are any indication. Sure, morale may have waned through the low points, though no one lost faith.
No one was pointing fingers or throwing anyone under the bus. Meanwhile, the Vikings' defense seemingly took the situation as a challenge to rise to the occasion and raised its game. O'Neill expressed that he and the rest of the team "love" McCarthy and wanted to get through the "growing pains" together.
While McCarthy hasn't provided many reasons for optimism to date, the Vikings appear to remain bullish on his outlook, and understandably so. They invested heavily in him, and he only turned 23 in January. Not to mention, the Michigan product showed improvement as Minnesota rattled off five straight wins to close last season.
And lest we forget, McCarthy sat out his entire rookie campaign with a torn meniscus; he's been facing an uphill battle ever since. Hopefully, a healthy offseason helps him get on track.
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