J.J. McCarthy has to compete with Kyler Murray to remain the Minnesota Vikings‘ starting quarterback in the upcoming 2026 NFL season. The franchise brought in Murray this offseason on a one-year veteran-minimum deal after McCarthy failed to impress last season.
McCarthy was questioned about his relationship with Murray on Thursday in an interview following a practice session. The former Michigan quarterback had a brutal response to that.
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“It’s just like two guys in a classroom,” McCarthy said. “He sits on one side, I sit on the other side. And it’s the coach’s responsibility to teach us and coach us, so.
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In a follow-up question, J.J. McCarthy was asked if there had been any kind of awkwardness between him and Kyler Murray as they compete for the starting job.
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“Awkwardness, it’s just like the same feeling when you’re in high school and there’s another person on the other side of the room. That’s just kinda how it is, so I wouldn’t say there’s any awkwardness.”
McCarthy’s response to the starting quarterback battle with Kyler Murray immediately generated a lot of controversy in the NFL world. This saw Dallas Cowboys quarterback and CBS college commentator call his antics out on social media.
“J.J. this is the NFL brother,” Di Nucci wrote on X. “This type of attitude doesn’t fly at the QB position. You have too many people watching how you talk / act.”
Kyler Murray had a different opinion from J.J. McCarthy on the QB competition
Kyler Murray’s opinion on the quarterback competition in Minnesota was different from that of J.J. McCarthy. When a similar question was thrown to him after Thursday’s practice, the former Arizona Cardinals quarterback answered it with a lot of professionalism.
“It’s been great,” Murray said. “Obviously, I know he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him. Obviously, I feel like I’ve played seven years now going on eight. So I’m considered a veteran, even though I don’t see myself as that. Give him any knowledge that he needs. Again, we’re both competitors, and I know we both want what’s best for the team.”
Murray was subsequently asked if McCarthy has been receptive to criticism in practice, as he looks to up his game from last season and become an NFL-level quarterback.
“Of course, of course, yeah, he’s overly acceptive,” Murray said. “And he’s always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that. So it’s been good.”
Reports coming out of the Vikings OTAs suggest Kyler Murray is in the strongest position to earn the Vikings’ starting quarterback job next season. However, J.J. McCarthy remains in contention, with no report ruling him out of the race.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
