Justin Jefferson Sends Clear Message About J.J. McCarthy Ahead of 2025 Season

The Minnesota Vikings are coming off a 2024 campaign that was impressive—until they reached the NFL postseason and struggled mightily in the first round against the Los Angeles Rams, cutting their season short despite finishing with 14 wins.

While the team has retained the bulk of its roster and even made improvements in key areas, one major change is on the horizon in 2025: the quarterback position. 

The Vikings are turning to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy, who missed all of last season after suffering a season-ending knee injury during the preseason. 

His absence opened the door for Sam Darnold to start the entire year, and after a strong performance, Darnold earned a long-term deal with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency.

Still, McCarthy is the player Minnesota invested in for the future, and he’s already embracing a leadership role as OTAs get underway. This week, Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson sent a clear message about McCarthy heading into the 2025 season.

“He understands the role that he has now,” Jefferson said, according to Emily Leiker of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “He understands he is the starting quarterback at this moment. I feel like he kind of brings that with him to practice, knowing that he has to have that leadership. He’s the captain of our team.”