First impressions can make all the difference in the world. The new Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback, 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, is leaving his mark before the 2025 season starts.
The offseason has been filled with questions about whether McCarthy is ready to take over as the starter. His torn meniscus injury in the preseason caused him to miss all of 2024.
While the Vikings haven't said whether McCarthy will be the starting quarterback in 2025, all signs point to him already having the job. Despite the concerns with him, some believe he is not only the guy, but Minnesota could be in for a historic season.
How J.J. McCarthy made enough of an impression to send belief in a Minnesota Vikings Super Bowl title
During an episode of the "Up & Adams" show on Monday, host Kay Adams and NBC Sports' Chris Simms discussed which sophomore quarterbacks will make the most significant leap. Simms didn't pick McCarthy as one of the two quarterbacks, but did say he has the talent around him to have a good year.
Adams chimed in as she gushed over McCarthy and went as far as to say that he is going to do something no other Vikings quarterback has ever done in franchise history.
"I think they're going to win the Super Bowl.
I met him and just a total fan fell for him. I met him down in Mayakoba at the NFLPA Classic and go 'oh you are a winner.' Just how Case was talking about him, how Harrison was talking about him. The OGs were just in that feeling. The way he was speaking to me, I just bought every stock. I was like 'yep, eating it for breakfast.' Absolutely."
McCarthy has been a proven winner dating back to his college days at Michigan, where he went 27-1 as the starter. He led the Wolverines to a national title victory in 2023 after throwing for 22 touchdowns and four interceptions in 15 games.
There is plenty to be optimistic about with McCarthy, even with technically just one preseason game under his belt last year. Against the Las Vegas Raiders, he threw for 188 yards and two touchdowns to one interception before his injury.
McCarthy's only competition at quarterback in training camp is Brett Rypien, Sam Howell, and Max Brosmer. Rypien and Howell have minimum starting experience, so it wouldn't make a huge difference to go with McCarthy, who has never started a game.
Minnesota's stacked roster around McCarthy will make it easy to believe that they are Super Bowl contenders. How their young signal caller plays in year one will make or break this season.