Justin Jefferson understands that quarterback struggles can become a major talking point in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings star watched J.J. McCarthy face increasing criticism while trying to establish himself in the offense.
Rather than add to the media scrutiny, Jefferson chose to support his teammate and handle difficult conversations privately.
Justin Jefferson Reveals How He Handled J.J. McCarthy’s Struggles in Minnesota
McCarthy’s first regular season as Minnesota’s quarterback brought plenty of challenges, and Jefferson experienced some of those problems directly on the field.
In 2025, McCarthy finished with 11 passing touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 games, while Jefferson still reached 1,000 receiving yards but posted career lows in receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per catch.
Jefferson, who ranked 38th on PFN NFL WR Impact Rankings, has not used these struggles as an opportunity to criticize his quarterback publicly. During an interview with Michael Silver of The Athletic, he explained why being one of the Vikings’ captains requires him to think carefully before speaking about a teammate.
“It’s a part of the game,” Jefferson said. “Not everything is gonna be flowers and rainbows, you know? Not every season is going to be the best season ever.”
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The wide receiver knows that even one comment about McCarthy or his other teammates could quickly become a headline. This concern has pushed Jefferson toward private conversations instead of public criticism when problems arise within the offense.
Jefferson said he preferred communicating directly with his teammates rather than allowing the media to become part of those discussions. He also revealed that he checked on McCarthy during a difficult 2025 season when the young quarterback faced mounting negativity.
“That one comment that I (might) make about one of my teammates might make headlines and be the trending topic, and that might be a bad look on the team and for me as well,” Jefferson added. “So just keeping it in house, communicating with my teammates personally and letting them know what’s going on… even talking with J.J. (McCarthy) last season and making sure his head is on right, with all of the negativity. Never will I downplay anybody in the media, no matter how bad it is.”
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This support does not mean Jefferson believes teammates should avoid accountability. Instead, he wants these conversations to happen directly between players rather than through interviews or social media.
“Never will I downplay anybody in the media, no matter how bad it is,” Jefferson said.
Jefferson has also accepted responsibility for his own mistakes. He has publicly taken blame for poor routes on plays that resulted in interceptions, showing the same accountability he expects from himself as a team leader.
Minnesota has since moved in a different direction at quarterback. Coach Kevin O’Connell named Kyler Murray the starter for the 2026 season, while McCarthy will continue his development as the backup.
This decision changes the quarterback situation but not Jefferson’s role. Whether catching passes from Murray or supporting McCarthy, the All-Pro receiver remains focused on keeping team issues inside the building and helping Minnesota move forward.
