Plenty of people want to kick dirt on the grave of J.J. McCarthy's NFL career after the Minnesota Vikings chose Kyler Murray to be their starting quarterback.
It's not hard to see that was always going to be the outcome. The Vikings struggled with McCarthy last season and want to see if they can rejuvenate the career of the former No. 1 overall pick.
Minnesota has had pockets of success with veteran quarterbacks, such as Sam Darnold in the 2024 season. That should give the Vikings hope for this season, as well as give McCarthy hope that there is still time for him to turn his career around.
On Monday, Dave Portnoy, in reaction to the news about Murray being named the starter, said that McCarthy will win a playoff game in the NFL.
“JJ McCarthy is going to win playoff games in this league” -Dave Portnoy https://t.co/Uc8CNSI7jM pic.twitter.com/JvtO38vPCw
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 17, 2026
Dave Portnoy isn't crazy when it comes to J.J. McCarthy
Most fans disagree with the take. Some hinted that Dave was delusional. It might seem that way, but there are some reasons to believe that, and Michigan football fans haven't lost faith in McCarthy.
You can say that Minnesota could have handled his development better, while also admitting that McCarthy needs to play better. If some of the media reports are true, he needs to prepare better.
That's all part of being a pro. He's only in his third season, though. It's way too early to give up on him, especially after he was 6-4 as a starter. He also accounted for at least three total touchdowns in four of those 10 starts, so the production wasn't quite as bad as some have indicated, especially when you consider how poorly the offensive line played.
Go back and re-watch the Green Bay game, the first one, if you don't believe me. Micah Parsons was in McCarthy's lap all game long. There is also a recent precedent of players who have turned around their NFL careers after a fresh start.
Darnold was one. He was with the Jets, 49ers and Panthers before he had a breakout season with the Vikings and settled in Seattle, winning the Super Bowl last season. Geno Smith is another quarterback who struggled with the Jets but found a home in Seattle.
Kyler Murray will try to be the latest example. Jared Goff was another, or even Alex Smith, who had a rough start with the 49ers before Jim Harbaugh resurrected his career.
Some have suggested Harbaugh could do the same for McCarthy and should trade for him. Yet, Harbaugh seems invested in Justin Herbert, and McCarthy might just be a distraction.
For now, McCarthy has to bide his time, improve every day, and take advantage of the next opportunity he gets. There will be another chance to start. The next time he will need to make sure whatever team it happens with can't take him off the field.
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