J.J. McCarthy answers major question on the minds of Vikings fans

After months of speculation and mock drafts, J.J. McCarthy to the Minnesota Vikings became a reality last Thursday during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Expectations are high for McCarthy, who is now the first quarterback the Vikings have ever selected with a top-10 draft pick in the history of the franchise.

Within the next two weeks, McCarthy will be on the field when Minnesota holds their annual rookie mini-camp at the TCO Performance Center. When that happens, we now know what number he will be wearing on his practice jersey.

J.J. McCarthy shares what jersey number he will be wearing as the new QB of the Minnesota Vikings

As he continues to adjust to life as a member of the Vikings, McCarthy took some time on Monday to answer some questions during an appearance on KFXN-FM with Minnesota play-by-play announcer Paul Allen.

The Vikings' new quarterback had a lot to say, but he also answered a question that many fans have been wondering ever since he was drafted last week. During his conversation with Allen, McCarthy revealed that he will begin his career with Minnesota by wearing the No. 9 on his jersey.

Multiple players have worn the No. 9 on their jersey for the Vikings in the past, with the most recent being wide receiver Trishton Jackson last season. McCarthy will be the first Minnesota quarterback to wear the No. 9 jersey since Brooks Bollinger in 2007.

McCarthy will also become the second signal-caller in team history to wear the No. 9 on his jersey after getting drafted by the Vikings with a first-round pick. Former Minnesota quarterback Tommy Kramer was the first when he wore the No. 9 jersey during his career with the franchise after they selected him in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft.

In addition to Jackson, Bollinger, and Kramer, the two other former Vikings to appear in a regular-season game with the No. 9 on their jersey were quarterback Jim McMahon and kicker Scott Sisson.

Following McCarthy's announcement on Monday, it seems safe to assume that there will be a ton of people wearing No. 9 purple and gold jerseys during Minnesota's training camp this summer and inside U.S. Bank Stadium when the team returns to the field for matchups in the preseason and regular season.

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