Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy addressed recent criticism of his arm strength Thursday, dismissing lingering doubts as a product of outdated narratives and misconceptions about his college career.
J.J. McCarthy says, people that know, know
The 22-year-old signal-caller, who was fully cleared by the Vikings’ medical staff to participate in all football activities earlier this week, faced questions from reporters following the team’s final minicamp practice. Much of the scrutiny stems from comments made by national analysts, including FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd, who labeled McCarthy’s arm as “modest” and questioned his overall quarterback traits.
McCarthy, smiling as he fielded the question, attributed the skepticism to his time at Michigan, where he operated in a run-heavy offense and didn’t fit the prototypical physical mold of an NFL passer.
“A lot of it just comes with the stigma of playing at Michigan and not throwing the ball a lot,” McCarthy said. “At the same time, it could be my frame. They don’t see a 6-foot-5, 240-pound guy, so how can he throw it 61 miles an hour at the combine and all that? But at the end of the day, it’s gonna show up. And the people that know, know. I think it’s just the situations I’ve been in and maybe not passing the eye test for some people.”
McCarthy’s arm strength was on display at the 2024 NFL Combine, where he delivered a throw clocked at 61 mph — just one mile per hour shy of the event record held by Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Despite this, questions have persisted, largely due to limited passing opportunities in Michigan’s offense and his relatively lean frame.
Teammates and coaches have been quick to defend McCarthy’s abilities. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson praised the rookie’s velocity and accuracy, noting the ball “comes to you very quick, quicker than what you expect,” and highlighting his ability to fit passes into tight windows. McCarthy, who missed most of his rookie season due to a knee injury, emphasized that his focus this offseason has been on refining his touch and timing, rather than proving his arm strength.
Those that know, know. pic.twitter.com/yeY1Taj1Ri
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 12, 2025
“It just comes with the reps on reps and the feel, just like you’re working on your chips in a golf game,” McCarthy said. “Just finding that feel over and over again. Having this much time off and not throwing the ball since the injury, just finding that feel again. It’s just an ultimate blessing that I get to get out here and take advantage of these six weeks off and really work on those different kind of pitches.”
With training camp on the horizon, McCarthy is eager to let his play speak for itself. “The people that know, know,” he reiterated.
