J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings Rumored to Meet an Old Friend in October
It’s that time of the year when the NFL releases the schedules for the upcoming season. We already know the Vikings are headed to Ireland and England for matchups against the Steelers and the Browns in Weeks 4 and 5.
J.J. McCarthy’s Vikings Reportedly Meet an Old Friend in October
Next on the docket could be the Los Angeles Chargers and Jim Harbaugh in Week 8. It would be a road game for the purple franchise. Some social media rumors have hinted at the event.
Alex Katson, Chargers Wire, is leading the charge.
Harbaugh was once a hot candidate to succeed Mike Zimmer in the 2022 offseason, but Kevin O’Connell ultimately got the nod. He went back to Michigan and continued his journey with J.J. McCarthy as his QB1.
Jim Harbaugh and His Favorite Student
Jim Harbaugh’s college stint wasn’t as successful as he hoped it would be, but then he landed a quarterback in the class of 2021. His name was McCarthy. Over many other offers, McCarthy joined Harbaugh’s operation, and the move would change both of their careers. Their final college game was a national championship.
In 2024, Harbaugh became the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and McCarthy was a promising quarterback in the draft. While Harbaugh didn’t need a quarterback with Justin Herbert in place, he was still asked about his ex-student.
He said, “I think he plays quarterback the best of any quarterback in the draft. He’s incredible. So, big market, small market. Cold weather, hot weather, it won’t matter.”
Earlier this offseason, Harbaugh declared: “J.J. is a tone setter. He brings the energy. Great talent. Every fiber of his being is about helping the team … I can guarantee Vikings fans that he is up and at it today, attacking the day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind. I love him.”
In March, a couple of weeks later, he added: “They (Michigan players) are beloved sons … that’s one, J.J., yeah. It will be nostalgic now, but I know once I envision playing, he is a tremendous competitor, and it’s great. You get a little nostalgic, and I am just happy for each and every one of the guys. You are talking not just now but long and trusting friendships. Viking fans are going to be very happy as well with J.J. McCarthy.”
J.J. McCarthy And His Favorite Teacher
But that’s not a one-sided love, whatsoever. The quarterback also enjoyed his time with the enthusiastic coach.
Last year, right before the draft, McCarthy said about his mentor: “I just can’t thank him enough for everything, because I didn’t get where I was over these three years without him and without my teammates. He’s the glue that held it all together and made it happen … The bond that we have goes so much further than that small 10 seconds that everybody sees. It leads up to it in the locker room when he’s saying, ‘Here we go, champ, let’s have a day.’ Just little stuff like that, that goes such a long way in a quarterback’s process and development that I’m forever grateful for.”
“It goes back to the meetings, it goes back to when he first recruited me,” McCarthy remembered. “I mean, he’s just such a great guy, has such a great heart. And you can tell he genuinely wants every single one of his players to succeed, especially the quarterback.”
Thankfully, the young passer landed with another fantastic coach in Kevin O’Connell.
Bad Memories to Week 8 in LA
Los Angeles is actually not a good place for Vikings. Just last year, in the same exact Week 8, the Purple and Gold travelled to Los Angeles and lost the second of only four defeats all year and their first of two against the Rams. In addition to that, Christian Darrisaw suffered a severe knee injury. It was the infamous missed facemask game.
But that’s not even the full Los Angeles story. The Vikes also lost against the Chargers in 2023 (you might remember T.J. Hockenson dropping the game-winning pass into the hands of a defender).
The Vikings, at least, won the previous two road contests against the Chargers.
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