The Minnesota Vikings believe that poor quarterback play was the main reason their 2025 season went down the drain. To rectify that, the Vikings added Kyler Murray this offseason with plans of having him compete with J.J. McCarthy for the starting job.
With Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer also in the room, the Vikings have created the most competitive quarterback room for anyone who’s ever competed, but according to former head coach Brad Childress, it may not matter.
Childress was a guest on the Minnesota Star Tribune’s "Daily Delivery" podcast this week and gave his opinions on the Vikings quarterback battle.
But while many are hoping that Murray or McCarthy emerge with the job and lead Minnesota back to the playoffs, Childress’s conversation with his former mentor, Andy Reid, after a 2008 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, suggests the Vikings may be screwed no matter the outcome if they plan to roll with both quarterbacks next season.
“I sat with him for a while, and he said, ‘You’ve got a good football team. If you can figure out that quarterback thing, you’re going to have a great football team.’
And so you know, that was on my mind, but it’s always on your mind. If you don’t have [a quarterback], you’re always looking for one, and that’s everybody across the NFL.”
Minnesota Vikings may be doomed if they don’t commit to a starting quarterback
Childress’s recollection of that 2008 playoff loss is a similar situation to what Kevin O’Connell is facing now.
After leading the Vikings to 14 wins during the 2024 season, O’Connell went belly-up with McCarthy as his starter last season, only going 9-8 after winning five straight games against teams that were either eliminated from the playoffs, on the verge of elimination, or resting their starters for a playoff game.
The Vikings believe they have the roster to win in 2026, but O’Connell also knows he needs solid quarterback play to make it happen.
That’s why Murray’s arrival seemed to announce that he would be the starting quarterback this season, but O’Connell has been adamant that there will be a competition in training camp, which is a different approach than the one Childress took in 2009.
In that situation, Childress was also developing a young quarterback in Tarvaris Jackson, but he wasn’t good enough to get a Vikings roster that featured Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson and others deep into the playoffs.
Because of that, Childress turned to Brett Favre, who joined the Vikings that summer and immediately transformed them into a Super Bowl contender, leading them to a 12-4 season that ended in the NFC Championship.
While Murray or McCarthy could also take a step forward and become that quarterback, Childress mentioned the Vikings have to find that answer in training camp if they want to compete next season.
“I don’t think they can be a good team if they don’t have a quarterback that they rely on.”
To O’Connell’s credit, he did say whoever wins the quarterback competition will be the starter for the entire season unless the starter bows out due to injury. A surprising trade of either player could also drive the point home and give the Vikings the quarterback they’re going to roll with in 2026.
But unless that answer comes quickly, the Vikings could be in limbo, and O’Connell could run into the same problem that Childress did with a talented roster but no quarterback in the late 2000s.
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