Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell seems on towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in the course of the first quarter at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.
J.J. McCarthy was a Kwesi Adofo-Mensah choose. Now gone, Adofo-Mensah can not insist on rolling with the younger fella. So says Cris Carter, at the very least within the retelling from inside a latest interview.
Just a few days in the past, Kevin O’Connell chatted for about half an hour with Dan Barreiro of KFAN. Berreiro actually does a pleasant job as an interlocutor, asking moderately powerful questions however doing so in a fashion that’s curious relatively than accusative. At one level, he handed alongside the Carter remark to ask for O’Connell’s response.
Carter’s “sources indicate to him,” the interviewer suggests, that Adofo-Mensah was the primary individual behind the McCarthy choice.
O’Connell’s response: “Yeah, I can’t really speak to his sources. I will just say this, Dan, it was a time and place in this organization where there was a lot of momentum — from me included — to draft a quarterback […] I wanted the same thing happening now, then. I wanted a competitive daily situation.” In O’Connell’s retelling, there would have been a battle between McCarthy and Sam Darnold.
On the threat of misinterpreting, O’Connell seems to be saying that the difficulty isn’t rolling with McCarthy however, relatively, that McCarthy has been harm so usually. O’Connell then clarified that what has modified is “10 football games in three years.”
Kevin O’Connell, Cris Carter, & The Standing of J.J. McCarthy
What’s O’Connell speculated to say?
In idea, the skipper might have shifted all the blame to his former colleague, however that will have been remarkably silly. In spite of everything, O’Connell has accomplished numerous speaking in regards to the younger passer since McCarthy was scooped up at No. 10 general within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) discusses technique with head coach Kevin O’Connell on Sep 14, 2025, throughout first-half play towards the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis. The 2 reviewed changes on the sideline because the rookie continued gaining command of the offense underneath O’Connell’s steering within the early levels of his first NFL season. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
Over on Sports activities Illustrated, Will Ragatz has handed alongside plenty of the coach’s enthusiasm following the brutal damage in the summertime of 2024.
Think about one daring declare: “As excited as I was to draft him, he’s confirmed everything that I hoped to see. Our fan base and everyone should be excited about the fact that we’ve got our young franchise quarterback in the building.”
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Calling Mr. McCarthy a franchise quarterback is daring. Exhausting to stroll that one again, proper? Word, as properly, that the remark confirming McCarthy because the franchise passer got here after expressing enthusiasm about drafting him. A few years later, O’Connell is being pressed on his want to have added McCarthy within the first place.
Think about, as properly, the feedback that O’Connell made in regards to the function that franchises play in a younger arm’s improvement. Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports activities helpfully passes alongside that quote: “I just think as a whole, there’s not enough emphasis put on the organization’s role in the development of the position, meaning I believe that organizations fail young quarterbacks before young quarterbacks fail organizations.”
Oct 5, 2025; Tottenham, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell throughout warmups earlier than an NFL Worldwide Sequence sport between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos
Possibly unsurprisingly, lots has been stated on the matter. A few of that may be introduced again to Kevin O’Connell as a person however then there’s loads of broader chatter.
Per Carter (however by way of the KFAN interview), the previous GM wished J.J. McCarthy. Let’s assume that’s true. In spite of everything, there’s been no scarcity of chatter about Kevin O’Connell actually wanting Drake Maye.
Since then, O’Connell has stated quite a bit.
Calling McCarthy the franchise quarterback earlier than then taking purpose on the NFL’s franchises extra broadly for failing younger fellas implies that O’Connell is invested on this factor. He’s, in any case, the quarterback whisperer, the one who is meant to get it since he was an NFL passer earlier than turning right into a quarterback coach (after which rising up from there).
What’s odd, as properly, is that Minnesota didn’t have a real quarterback competitors final 12 months. Sam Howell bought dropped at city to throw the pigskin alongside Brett Rypien and Max Brosmer. None of those three bought anyplace near threatening the highest quarterback job.
In equity, the Vikings did need Daniel Jones, as Adofo-Mensah later admitted to the media. However then there was the refusal so as to add anyone in free company. Most notably, Aaron Rodgers wished to come back to the Twin Cities however the crew determined not to take action.
Did Kevin O’Connell log out on all of those selections and indecisions?
Aug 2, 2024; Eagan, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) and quarterback Sam Darnold (14) heat up throughout apply at Vikings coaching camp in Eagan, MN. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Later right now, the Vikings will proceed working by means of a quarterback competitors. Most anticipate that Kyler Murray will turn out to be the QB1 earlier than lengthy. J.J. McCarthy, no matter who was the primary individual pushing for him, will look to beat powerful odds.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. E mail: ok.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
