Vikings Coach and Quarterback Get Put on the Spot with Team’s Most Controversial Question
Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell happens to be quite good at giving voice to a pile of words without communicating much. The same can be said of J.J. McCarthy, the passer who failed in his debut season as the team starter.
The Sunday game finished off by a score of 16-3, a margin of 13 points that doesn’t accurately reflect the full extent of Packer impotence (they played all backups). Afterwards, O’Connell and McCarthy stepped in front of the Minnesota media. Neither were able to escape the point blank question of where the Vikings are going to turn at starting quarterback in 2026.
Vikings Coach & Quarterback Take on Top Question
To begin, consider what Coach O’Connell had to say when asked about Mr. McCarthy being the starter next year.
“I think every year you’re coming back to build a team throughout the offseason, throughout the draft,” O’Connell began. There was then a mention of McCarthy having “grown,” the reality of the passer just finishing his “tenth start” while highlighting the “work” ahead. To finish things off, O’Connell spoke of the “challenge of being the best version of [himself] for not only J.J. but this entire team.”
Classic O’Connell.
There was no firm commitment to rolling with J.J. McCarthy going into the 2026 season. Had McCarthy performed well — think 2024 draftee Drake Maye over in New England, for instance — then O’Connell would have been thrilled to end any uncertainty by fully committing the team to the sophomore. The mere fact that the question had to be asked says a lot, doesn’t it? Presumably, nobody will be asking Mike Vrabel about whether Maye is the starter going forward for the Pats.
McCarthy did a nice job on his end of things when asked about whether he nailed down the starting spot.
McCarthy’s reflection when asked if he has locked down the starting position: “After today, maybe, but tomorrow there’s nothing promised. The next day there’s nothing promised. That’s something I take very seriously. It’s not something that you buy and you get for the rest of your life. You rent it, you lease it every single day, and I’m just trying to make daily deposits to make sure I’m in this house for a long time.”
Classic McCarthy.
The kid has always been mature and professional. Somewhere along the way, McCarthy has learned that a starting spot needs ongoing payment, especially in an NFL that’s always keen to fire someone if hiring someone else appears more exciting. The rent is only going to increase for McCarthy going into 2026 as the standard keeps getting raised.
All things considered, McCarthy had a nice day at the office in Week 18. He went 14/23 for 182 yards while showing off some good chemistry with Justin Jefferson for the first time. Going forward, McCarthy needs to find a way to get the ball into Jefferson’s hands consistently.
Doing so will ensure that he continues starting for a long time.
No matter the path forward at quarterback, the Vikings are going to face a pile of scrutiny. Such is life for a team with a talented (and well paid) roster, a head coach commonly praised as a quarterback expert, and a national champion passer who was chosen at No. 10 in the draft.
Buckle up for what is sure to be a wild offseason. However the team proceeds, the QB decision will surely generate controversy.
