With quarterback Sam Darnold out, J.J. McCarthy is primed to debut for the Minnesota Vikings in the 2025 season. McCarthy is the clear QB1 on the team as they selected him with the No. 10 pick in last year’s draft. Unfortunately for the organization, McCarthy went down with a season-ending injury before he ever stepped on the field for a game. Recently, this Vikings veteran had high praise for the former Michigan Wolverine.
Harrison Phillips Compares J.J. McCarthy to Josh Allen
While Josh Allen has yet to make a Super Bowl, the Buffalo Bills quarterback is a proven leader on and off the field. His work during the NFL regular season speaks for itself, so McCarthy’s comparison to the 2024 NFL MVP is quite impressive. Ultimately, McCarthy has continued to win over the locker room even though he isn’t playing on the field.
“I’ve commented before about (how) he came to me the week after his injury to learn more about the defense,” Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said. “Asking those great questions. He’s really stepped up in the personal power role (this year). In the locker room, I’m constantly seeing him go up to new guys, to new players, dapping each other up, sitting on the couches and just having conversation.”
He continued, “Where last year it was off to rehab, off to meetings. He understands that we have to build a family here and that you can’t have unique results without unique relationships.”
JJ McCarthy is gonna put some SICK throws on the All-22 this year. He has a cannon. pic.twitter.com/oCVJ8y4ttF
— 𝙆𝙖𝙨𝙚 (@verysadvikings) June 3, 2025
For the Vikings, they went into a marquee matchup with the Detroit Lions that controlled their playoff seeding. The Vikings were blown out, 31-9, and suffered a first-round playoff exit at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, 27-9. It will be tough for the Vikings to compete again in the NFC North, but McCarthy’s leadership will rely on those “unique relationships” that Phillips mentioned.
Phillips spoke on the Allen comparison, “And then man, he’s got some confidence. And he reminds me of Josh Allen when I was with him in Buffalo, coming into his own and understanding the power that he has to lead this organization, and he’s doing a fantastic job doing that.”
Undoubtedly, people will try to turn Phillips’ quote into something it is not. The 29-year-old spent his first four seasons in Buffalo before joining the Vikings roster in 2022. He’s under contract through the 2026 season, meaning Phillips will get to see McCarthy grow and develop as a QB, even though he already has a ton of faith in the 22-year-old who takes the reins as Vikings QB in just a few months.
