J.J. McCarthy

CAREER NOTES

• Minnesota's seventh pick out of Michigan all-time and the first Wolverine selected by the Vikings in the first three rounds of a NFL Draft.
• First offensive Michigan player drafted by the Vikings in franchise history and the first Wolverine picked by the Vikings since S Josh Metellus was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
• Became the first Vikings QB to make his NFL debut and start in a season opener in team history.
• Is the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut.
• Became the first starting QB with a 10+ point fourth quarter comeback in his NFL debut since Steve Young in 1985. He is the only such QB since 1950 to do so on the road.
• Is the first player since Cam Newton (2011) with 2+ passing touchdowns and at least one rushing touchdown in his NFL debut.
• Is the first QB in NFL history to make his first two career starts in primetime in Weeks 1 and 2 of the season.
• Joined Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs since 1970 age 22 and younger to have two division road wins within their first three starts.
• Is the first QB in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in two of a player's first three career games.
• Joined Aaron Brooks (2000), Tony Romo (2006) and Patrick Mahomes (2018) as the only four QBs since 1970 to score at least five touchdowns and secure two road wins in their first three career starts.
• Is the first player in NFL history to throw multiple touchdowns while logging a rushing score in three of the first eight games of his career.

CAREER NOTES

• Minnesota's seventh pick out of Michigan all-time and the first Wolverine selected by the Vikings in the first three rounds of a NFL Draft.
• First offensive Michigan player drafted by the Vikings in franchise history and the first Wolverine picked by the Vikings since S Josh Metellus was selected in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
• Became the first Vikings QB to make his NFL debut and start in a season opener in team history.
• Is the first player in NFL history to score three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut.
• Became the first starting QB with a 10+ point fourth quarter comeback in his NFL debut since Steve Young in 1985. He is the only such QB since 1950 to do so on the road.
• Is the first player since Cam Newton (2011) with 2+ passing touchdowns and at least one rushing touchdown in his NFL debut.
• Is the first QB in NFL history to make his first two career starts in primetime in Weeks 1 and 2 of the season.
• Joined Hall of Famer Dan Marino and Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs since 1970 age 22 and younger to have two division road wins within their first three starts.
• Is the first QB in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and one rushing touchdown in two of a player's first three career games.
• Joined Aaron Brooks (2000), Tony Romo (2006) and Patrick Mahomes (2018) as the only four QBs since 1970 to score at least five touchdowns and secure two road wins in their first three career starts.
• Is the first player in NFL history to throw multiple touchdowns while logging a rushing score in three of the first eight games of his career.

HONORS

• NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week 1, 2025)

2025 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Named team captain for the 2025 season, the first nod of his career.
• Started 10 games in 2025, completing 140-of-243 (57.6%) pass attempts for 1,632 yards and 11 touchdowns while throwing 12 interceptions. He also added 181 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 37 carries.
• Over his final four starts of the season, McCarthy completed 54-of-84 (64.3%) pass attempts for 703 yards, five passing touchdowns and two interceptions with a 100.4 passer rating.
• Completed 14-of-23 pass attempts for 182 yards in Week 18 vs. Green Bay (1/4) before leaving the game in the first offensive drive of the third quarter due to injury. His 174 passing yards in the first half were his most of any half this season.
• Was inactive due to injury in Week 17 vs. Detroit (12/25).
• Went 9-of-14 for 108 yards before leaving the game due to injury in the second quarter in Week 16 at the New York Giants (12/21). He added 20 yards and one touchdown on two rushing attempts.
• Completed 15-of-24 pass attempts for a career-high 250 yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 15 at Dallas (12/14) on Sunday Night Football. He added 15 yards on the ground and one touchdown on four rushing attempts. He now has 11 total passing touchdowns and three total rushing touchdowns on the season.
• In Week 14 vs. Washington (12/7), was 16-for-23 for 163 yards and three touchdowns. He added 19 rushing yards on six attempts. He became the first Vikings QB aged 22 or younger since Tommy Kramer in Week 12 of the 1977 season vs. San Francisco to throw for three passing touchdowns in a single game. It was also the first time a Vikings QB aged 22 or younger has posted a passer rating of at least 125.0 since Tommy Kramer in that Week 12 matchup.
• Was inactive due to injury in Week 13 at Seattle (11/30).
• Completed 12-of-19 pass attempts for 87 yards and two interceptions in Week 12 at Green Bay (11/23).
• In Week 11 vs. Chicago (11/16), completed 16-of-32 pass attempts for 150 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
• Threw for 248 yards in Week 10 vs. Baltimore (11/9). He also recorded one touchdown pass and two interceptions. On the ground, he led the team with 48 yards on five rushes.
• In his third career start in Week 9 at Detroit (11/2), was 14-of-25 for 143 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also logged nine carries for 12 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
• Was inactive in Weeks 3-5 due to injury and was the team's emergency third QB in Weeks 7-8.
• In his U.S. Bank Stadium debut vs. Atlanta (9/14) in Week 2 on Sunday Night Football, completed 11-of-21 pass attempts for 158 passing yards and two interceptions, while adding 25 rushing yards on five attempts on the ground. Connected with WR Justin Jefferson for 50-yards in the second quarter.
• Made his NFL debut in Week 1 at Chicago on Monday Night Football, going 13-of-20 for 143 yards, one interception and two touchdowns, while rushing twice for 25 yards and a score. He is just the fifth QB since 1990 to make his first career start on a Monday, joining Brian Griese (1999), Philip Rivers (2006), Aaron Rodgers (2008) and Sam Darnold (2018).

2024 | MINNESOTA VIKINGS

• Spent the season on Injured Reserve after sustaining a season-ending injury in the Vikings first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

COLLEGE - MICHIGAN

• Finished his career with a 27-1 record as a starter, the best winning percentage (96.4%) by any college QB since Toledo's Chuck Ealey (1971) and Oklahoma's Jimmy Harris (1956) ended their careers with 35-0 and 25-0 records, respectively.
• In three seasons at Michigan (2021-23), played in 40 games and was 482-of-713 (68%) for 6,226 yards and 49 touchdowns. Added 632 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
• Helped Michigan capture the 2024 CFP National Championship.
• As a junior in 2023, started all 15 games and posted career highs in completions (240), completion percentage (72%), passing yards (2,991), passing touchdowns (22) and passing yards per game (199.4). Also had 202 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.
• Set program records for single-season completion percentage (72.3%) and interception rate (1.20), second in touchdowns (22) and pass efficiency (167.4) and fourth in passing (2,991) in 2023.
• As a sophomore in 2022, appeared in all 14 games with 13 starts. Completed 208-of-322 pass attempts for 2,719 yards (eighth in single-season program history), 22 touchdowns (tied sixth) and five interceptions. Added 306 rushing yards with five touchdowns on 70 attempts in 2022.
• Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman in 2021, completing 34-of-59 pass attempts for 516 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. Added 124 yards rushing and two scores on the ground.

HONORS

• Consensus First-Team All-Big Ten (2023)
• Griese-Brees Big Ten Quarterback of the Year (2023)
• Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Finalist (2023)
• Manning Award Finalist (2023)
• Tournament of Roses Rose Bowl Game Offensive MVP (2023)
• 2x Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week (2023)
• Second-Team All-Big Ten (Media, 2022)
• Third-Team All-Big Ten (Coaches, 2022)
• Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalist (2022)
• Michigan Offensive Player of the Year (2022)
• 2x Davey O'Brien Great 8 Quarterback of the Week (2022-23)

PREP - IMG ACADEMY (FLA.)

• Consensus four-star prospect amongst the major recruiting services and 23rd overall player nationally, No. 2 QB and No. 7 overall prospect in the state of Florida, per ESPN.
• Began high school career at Nazareth in La Grange Park, Ill., coached by Tim Racki, before concluding prep career at IMG Academy in 2021 under Coach Bobby Acosta.
• Finished his high school career with a 36-2 record as a starter, accumulating 7,905 career pass yards with 94 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
• As a senior, went 92-of-165 passing for 1,392 yards and 16 touchdown passes and no interceptions. Added one rushing score and helped IMG finish 8-0, outscoring its opponents 381-82 during the season.
• Part of an IMG team that finished the season as the 2020 National Champions and ranked No. 1 in MaxPrep's final 2020 High School Football Rankings.
• Threw for 2,820 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior at Nazareth Academy.
• As a sophomore in 2018, completed 182-of-240 passes (76%) for 3,448 yards, 39 touchdowns and four interceptions. Also scored two rushing touchdowns.
• Led Nazareth to a 13-1 record and the Class 7A state title as a sophomore in 2018, helping the team reach the state title game in 2017 and 2019 as well.
• Academic All-State selection at Nazareth.

OFF THE FIELD

• Full name is Jonathan James McCarthy.
• Son of Jim and Megan McCarthy.
• Also an accomplished hockey player.
• Was enrolled in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, majoring in general studies at Michigan.
• Married wife, Katya, in April of 2026.
• Has a son, Rome.