Before the start of the 2025 season, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell seemed to make sure to go out of his way at any chance he could to make it clear that he had an incredible amount of confidence in J.J. McCarthy emerging as the franchise's next great quarterback.
Well, after Minnesota's final game of the season on Sunday, it didn't sound like O'Connell's confidence in McCarthy was anywhere close to what it was a few months ago.
Following the contest, the Vikings head coach gave a very telling answer when he was asked if he felt comfortable heading into the 2026 season with McCarthy as the team's starting quarterback.
"I think every year you're coming back to build a team throughout the offseason, throughout the draft, leading into training camp.
I think he's improved throughout the season. I think he's grown like a lot of young quarterbacks do throughout the season. Today was his 10th start. I can't wait to work with him in the offseason and absolutely look forward to the continued development and improvement.
I'm excited about where he's ending the season and know that there's some things we can really dive into as a group and J.J. and myself.
I look forward to the challenge of being the best version of myself for not only
J.J., but this entire team, for sure."
Kevin O'Connell hints at a QB1 change for Minnesota Vikings with J.J. McCarthy comments
If O'Connell was okay with giving McCarthy another chance to open up a season as Minnesota's starting quarterback, then he probably would've just replied with a simple "yes" when asked about the young signal-caller's future on Sunday.
But that's not what happened.
Instead, O'Connell shied away from outright saying "yes" or "no," and he offered up one of his finest word salads in response, with the hopes that no one would notice him skirting around the question.
After missing his first year in the NFL with a knee injury, McCarthy was essentially a rookie this season, and the struggles that he experienced in the last few months were pretty typical for a young quarterback.
That clearly has not mattered to O'Connell, however, who sounds like he's ready to find his next quarterback re-tread that he can "fix" and help lead the Vikings to another first-round playoff exit.
McCarthy has shown plenty of intriguing flashes this season, and there are multiple reasons to believe that he can improve even more if given the time.
But that's the problem.
O'Connell and Minnesota don't have the patience to wait around for the young passer to develop, even if the outcome will result in a greater reward than whatever quick fix they choose to roll into next season with.