Last season, the Minnesota Vikings pulled off an unexpected 14-win campaign with none other than Sam Darnold—yes, that Sam Darnold—under center. Fresh off a reboot courtesy of head coach Kevin O’Connell’s quarterback rehab program, the former No. 3 overall pick shook off the “bust” label and balled out. Though the playoff run ended abruptly in the first round, O’Connell snagged his first Coach of the Year trophy, and Darnold walked away with Comeback Player of the Year honors.
But that was then.
Darnold has since packed his bags for Seattle, and the Vikings now appear ready to turn the page to their next chapter: JJ McCarthy.
Selected 10th overall in 2024, McCarthy is widely expected to take the reins of the Vikings offense heading into 2025. With most starting-caliber free agent quarterbacks already off the board and only Brett Rypien currently behind him on the depth chart, the timing seems right.
But there’s one big catch: McCarthy hasn’t been on the field since undergoing season-ending meniscus surgery last August.
Now, with the team’s offseason program kicking off on April 21, the Vikings are holding their breath. They believe in McCarthy’s talent. They love his character, his work ethic, his leadership. But until they see him back in action—really see him, on the field, with defenders flying around—they can’t fully commit to handing him the keys just yet.
That lingering uncertainty is reportedly why some veteran options, like Aaron Rodgers, remain in the rumor mill. The coaching staff needs to get a clear picture of McCarthy’s post-surgery form before shutting the door on any potential QB additions.
That evaluation starts now.
While many players will treat the early offseason workouts as a light tune-up, McCarthy won’t have that luxury. Every snap, every throw, every interaction will be closely watched by O’Connell, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and the entire Vikings brain trust. This next month will begin shaping their decision: is McCarthy truly ready to lead this team, or do they still need a veteran safety net?
“We won’t know until we get out on the grass with him,” O’Connell said. “But my expectation is he’s going to have a great spring and we’re going to feel really good about him going into training camp.”
The stakes are high. The Vikings have built a strong roster and believe they’re in win-now mode. If McCarthy rises to the occasion, the path is clear. If not, the front office may have some late moves to make.
It’s almost time to find out.
McCarthy only played one preseason game last year before his injury, but he made it count—going 11-of-17 for 188 yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders. Since then, he’s spent nearly a year rehabbing and preparing for this moment. His college résumé speaks for itself: a 72.3% completion rate in his final season at Michigan, 49 touchdowns to just 11 picks over his career, and a national title to top it all off.
Now, it’s time to see if all that potential can translate into NFL success.
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