At just 22 years old, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the youngest starting quarterback entering Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
After missing his rookie year due to a meniscus injury, McCarthy won the starting job this summer and is poised for his first career start on primetime Monday Night Football against the Chicago Bears.
It will also serve as a homecoming for McCarthy, born and raised in La Grange, Ill.
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There has been mounting speculation surrounding his preparedness and handling of the emotions of the game, which McCarthy addressed in a Wednesday news conference ahead of his NFL debut.
“Most prepared I’ve felt in my life,” McCarthy said, adding that backup Carson Wentz, signed last week, has helped him prepare for all the uncertainty that comes with a Week 1 matchup. “You never really know what you’re going to get… so the most important thing is just staying locked into the simple things, locked into what my job is that play, and then reacting to what the defense is giving me. But very prepared and very confident.”
Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy on his first NFL start on Monday Night Football against the Bears.”Most prepared I’ve felt in my life,” he said, adding that the feelings playing at Michigan were more intense.”Pure excitement, pure confidence.” pic.twitter.com/aOxjR2WRaD
— Trevor Squire (@trevordsquire) September 4, 2025
While a crowd of 60,000 fans at Soldier Field could seem daunting for McCarthy in his first start, he admitted that he has already handled that pressure, making the jump from high school football to playing at Michigan.
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Before being selected 10th overall in the 2024 draft, McCarthy led the Wolverines to a 15-0 undefeated national championship season. Home games at Michigan can exceed 100,000 people, making Monday night’s crowd pale in comparison.
“It really doesn’t [compare], to be honest with you,” McCarthy added. “Just playing so many big games at Michigan, obviously, it’s a different level here. But just having those reps of those emotions that you feel, and how you handle them, and how you manage them. But this one, there’s just pure excitement, pure confidence.”
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