Giants’ J.J. McCarthy Breaks Silence After Starting Announcement

New York Giants coach John Harbaugh named J.J. McCarthy the starting quarterback Wednesday for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

The 3-2-1 Giants, who sit atop the NFC East, host the 2-4 Texans at NRG Stadium. McCarthy, acquired from the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 28 for a 2027 fifth-round pick, will make his first start in a Giants uniform.

McCarthy entered the Giants’ 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints last Sunday in the fourth quarter. He completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards with a touchdown and an interception while leading three scoring drives that cut a 34-10 deficit.

The performance marked his most extensive action since joining the team and prompted Harbaugh to make the change after Wednesday’s practice. McCarthy, a dual-threat option who can use his legs, finished with four carries for 28 yards in that outing.

Speaking to reporters afterward, McCarthy said, “Honored to be here in front of you guys, honored to be the quarterback for the New York Football Giants and be able to get an opportunity this weekend against a great Houston Texans team. You know, thrilled to get out there, and tomorrow really get in the film room and just evaluate today’s practice and get better, and go from there.”

The 23-year-old was selected 10th overall by the Vikings in the 2024 draft out of Michigan, where he won a national championship under Jim Harbaugh, the brother of the Giants’ coach. He has appeared in 12 career games with 10 starts, completing 57.2 percent of his passes for 1,875 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

By comparison, veteran Jameis Winston, who started the previous four games in place of the injured Jaxson Dart, has completed 57 percent of his passes for 957 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Winston went 2-1-1 as the starter before being replaced late against the Saints.

Asked how his mindset has shifted since the midseason trade, McCarthy replied, “Just being around a new group of guys, new system, new coaching staff, just a new culture. Everything about this place, it feels very fitting for me. Being in a makeshift locker room, being in this system, where they use the quarterback’s legs and a multitude of things. But, the personalities and the culture of grinding every single day to get better and everyone helping each progress toward one goal.”

He added, “It’s been fantastic. A lot of successful buildings have similar qualities and this building definitely has that, but it’s got its own little makeshift of New York Giants football that is really special and I’m just so blessed to be a part of.”

Harbaugh declined to project beyond this week.

“Life is day-to-day, minute-to-minute. There’s really no guarantees. I would never say that anything is permanent in football or life. That’s the plan going forward,” he said.

The Giants have scored 22.7 points per game while allowing 23.3, ranking near the middle of the league offensively and defensively. McCarthy’s mobility fits a system that emphasizes quarterback involvement in the run game, something the team lacked at times with Winston under center.

Sunday’s matchup offers McCarthy a chance to build on the late-game production he showed against New Orleans. Houston enters on a two-game winning streak after victories over the Titans and Jaguars, including a 34-31 road win in London last week.

With the Giants holding a lead in a wide-open NFC East, the decision gives the coaching staff an opportunity to evaluate the former first-round pick in a full starting role before the team’s Week 8 bye. McCarthy’s limited snaps earlier this season included brief appearances that produced only minimal rushing yards before the Saints game.