Former J.J. McCarthy teammate opens up about competition vs. Kyler Murray

Before wide receiver Adam Thielen retired following the 2025 regular season, he shared a locker room with Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy for a portion of the campaign. 

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Thielen discussed what he saw from McCarthy. Thielen also touched upon the Vikings' ongoing quarterback competition involving the 2024 first-round draft pick and free-agency signing Kyler Murray. 

J.J. McCarthy has "all the intangibles to be really successful in this league"

"I love J.J.," Thielen said, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "He’s a phenomenal dude. He’s a hard worker, [and] he’s got that dog in him. He’s a competitor. He’s got all the intangibles to be really successful in this league. I’m really excited about what this does for his game."

It remains to be seen if McCarthy can "be really successful in this league," as he thus far has made just 10 career regular-season starts at the highest level. Clearly, head coach Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings have at least some doubts about McCarthy. Otherwise, McCarthy wouldn't find himself competing with Murray for the Minnesota QB1 gig.

Adam Thielen: "Sky's the limit" for Kyler Murray in Minnesota

"I’ve always watched [Murray] from afar," Thielen added. "He’s an exciting player. I think if he can be the leader that he knows he has to be, and that the team needs at that position, the sky’s the limit for him. Who knows how that’s going to play out? But it’s a really exciting time in Minnesota because they have a lot of skill. They have a lot of players who can make plays, do a lot of things, and change the game. It’s not all on (star wide receiver) Justin Jefferson."

Thielen seemingly was referencing how Murray's work ethic and leadership qualities were routinely questioned during his Arizona Cardinals tenure, which ran from the 2019 draft through the 2025 campaign. Even if Murray gets everything right as it pertains to being a prepared signal-caller this summer, there seemingly is no guarantee he will outperform McCarthy during upcoming preseason games.