The football world loves nothing more than a bust narrative, and right now, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is its favorite target. After a tumultuous 2025 season in which McCarthy struggled in multiple categories, the Vikings brought in veteran Kyler Murray to compete for the starting job.
The NFL has a short memory, however, and a remarkable capacity for comeback stories. Look no further than Baker Mayfield and Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold, who both experienced success after being cast away by several teams.
Why Mike Tannenbaum Remains Bullish on J.J. McCarthy
On Monday’s edition of ESPN’s “Get Up,” former NFL general manager Mike Tannenbaum voiced his optimism about McCarthy’s development down the road.
“My glass is half-full with J.J. McCarthy. He did beat the Bears on opening day, throwing two touchdown passes. He’s young, he’s somewhat inexperienced,” Tannenbaum said.
“I did a couple of his games for ESPN radio. The game needs to slow down for him; that only happens with experience.”
“We’ve seen Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith, Sam Darnold sometimes take their second or third team for everything to click. I’m still bullish on J.J. long-term.”
BE THE GM OF YOUR FAVORITE TEAM: PFN’s FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator
Mayfield, a former No. 1 overall pick, was shipped out of Cleveland in favor of Deshaun Watson in 2022. He then had brief stints with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before finding a home in Tampa Bay.
Darnold struggled mightily with the New York Jets and Panthers before the Vikings took a chance on him. Darnold went 14-3 with the Vikings, and his efforts earned him a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks. McCarthy may be able to embark on his own redemption arc.
McCarthy’s first season as the starter was erratic. A 6-4 record came paired with accuracy issues and injuries while playing behind a subpar offensive line. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Vikings asked the young signal-caller to fix specific mechanical issues this offseason, and McCarthy has answered the bell.
REDRAFT THE ENTIRE NFL: PFN’s FREE NFL Ultimate Redraft Simulator
“The Vikings asked him to fix some things, including his ability to layer the ball and throw at different speeds. I’m told he’s addressed it in a major way, and it has shown,” Fowler noted.
Meanwhile, the camp battle between McCarthy and Murray isn’t as lopsided as advertised. Murray threw back-to-back interceptions on the first day of mandatory minicamp, then added a third during a red-zone drill.
While Murray is widely expected to win out, the gap has clearly narrowed in recent weeks. As of mid-June, the Vikings were still splitting first-team reps evenly between the two quarterbacks, with no immediate plan to name a starter.
Even if McCarthy loses the job with the Vikings, this is far from the end. He has flashed genuine potential, possesses dual-threat ability, and is still just 23 years old. McCarthy will undoubtedly earn another opportunity in the future.
