J.J. McCarthy: College Career, Stats, and Rise to the NFL
Jonathan James "J.J." McCarthy, born on January 20, 2003, is an American professional football quarterback currently playing for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). His college football career at the University of Michigan saw him achieve significant success, including a national championship in 2023. This article delves into McCarthy's college stats, his journey at Michigan, and his transition to the NFL.
Early Life and Commitment to Michigan
Despite growing up as an Ohio State fan, McCarthy committed to rival Michigan, showcasing his dedication to the Wolverines. He chose Michigan over offers from 24 other schools, including Ohio State. McCarthy's decision highlighted a shift in his allegiances, stating, "I used to love them."
Before fully committing to football, McCarthy was also a hockey player. He mentioned that hockey was his first love. However, around his freshman year of high school, he decided to focus solely on football, giving up hockey to pursue his quarterback aspirations. In May 2019, McCarthy solidified his commitment by deciding to play college football at the University of Michigan and enrolled in 2021.
2021 Season: Backup Role and Glimpses of Potential
McCarthy's first year with the Wolverines saw him appear in 11 games, primarily as a rotational backup to Cade McNamara. Despite his limited playing time, he provided glimpses of his potential.
A notable moment came in the final game of the regular season against Ohio State. McCarthy entered the game midway through the third quarter during a pivotal drive, completing a 31-yard pass to Roman Wilson, contributing to Michigan's victory and advancement to the 2021 Big Ten Championship. In the Orange Bowl (CFP semifinal) against the Georgia Bulldogs, McCarthy replaced Cade McNamara in the second half after McNamara’s struggles.
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2022 Season: Stepping into the Starting Role
During the 2022 season, McCarthy officially took over as the starting quarterback. He helped lead the Wolverines into an undefeated matchup with the Buckeyes on November 26. He passed for 263 yards and three touchdowns, including 75 and 69 yard scores by Cornelius Johnson and a 45-yard grab by Colston Loveland. During the Fiesta Bowl, McCarthy completed 20-of-34 passes for a career-high 343 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, both returned for touchdowns, in the 51-45 loss to TCU in the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals.
2023 Season: National Championship and Individual Accolades
The 2023 season was a pinnacle in McCarthy's college career. On September 2, 2023, in the season opener against East Carolina, McCarthy recorded his best career passing game at home, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns. On September 30, McCarthy completed 12-of-16 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Nebraska, tying Todd Collins for ninth-most in program history with 37 career passing touchdowns. He also rushed for a touchdown. The following week, McCarthy had a passing touchdown and his first career game with two rushing scores in the victory over Minnesota. Over the next two weeks, McCarthy threw for 222 yards and three touchdowns against Indiana, as well as 287 yards and a career best four passing touchdowns against the rival Michigan State Spartans on the road.
His leadership and performance culminated in a 15-0 record and a national championship for the Wolverines. McCarthy earned Big Ten Quarterback of the Year honors for his outstanding contributions throughout the season. On January 1, 2024, in a 27-20 overtime victory over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, McCarthy completed 17-of-27 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers: Roman Wilson, Blake Corum, and Tyler Morris. McCarthy was named Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game. After the Rose Bowl, Harbaugh said that McCarthy is the greatest quarterback in Michigan football history.
Throughout his three years at Michigan, the Wolverines secured three Big Ten titles and made three College Football Playoff semifinal appearances. McCarthy finished with a 27-1 record (.964) in two seasons as a starting quarterback, achieving the highest career winning percentage in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history.
College Statistics Overview
J.J. McCarthy's college stats reflect his growth and impact over three seasons:
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Career:
- 67.6% Completion Percentage
- 6,226 Passing Yards
- 49 Passing Touchdowns
- 8.7 Yards per Pass
- 160.5 Rating
- 41 Games Played
- 632 Rushing Yards
- 10 Rushing Touchdowns
- 11 Interceptions
- 34 Sacks
2023 Season:
- 72.3% Completion Percentage
- 2,991 Passing Yards
- 22 Passing Touchdowns
- 9 Yards per Pass
- 167.4 Rating
- 15 Games Played
- 202 Rushing Yards
- 3 Rushing Touchdowns
- 4 Interceptions
- 19 Sacks
Transition to the NFL
McCarthy's successful college career paved the way for his entry into the NFL. He was selected 10th overall by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft, marking a significant milestone in his football journey.
Initial NFL Expectations and Challenges
Upon joining the Vikings, McCarthy faced the challenge of adapting to the professional level. Initially, Sam Darnold was slated to start as QB1 for the Vikings camp, indicating that McCarthy would need to compete for the starting position.
Early Career Setbacks
Unfortunately, McCarthy's early NFL career faced setbacks. In August 2024, he underwent surgery for a torn meniscus in his right knee. This injury led to him being placed on injured reserve, effectively ending his rookie season before it began. As a result, McCarthy became the first first-round quarterback to miss his entire rookie season due to injury. The Vikings signed QB Matt Corral, place J.J. McCarthy on injured reserve.
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2025 Season: Promising Return and Achievements
McCarthy's resilience was evident as he made a strong comeback in the 2025 season. On September 8, 2025, he rallied the Vikings in the fourth quarter of his debut for a 27-24 win over the Bears. He made NFL history while leading the Vikings to a shocking win over the Bears.
His impressive performances earned him recognition as a Player of the Week alongside Bills QB Josh Allen. However, McCarthy faced another setback when he sustained an ankle injury in a game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 14, 2025, sidelining him for 2-4 weeks.
McCarthy returned as the Vikings' starting QB on November 2, 2025, throwing for 2 TDs and running for a score in his return as Vikings beat Lions 27-24. He continued to showcase his talent, throwing 3 TD passes in a dominant shutout victory over the Commanders on December 7, 2025.
Despite his successes, McCarthy's season was marred by a hairline fracture in his right hand sustained in December 2025. This injury forced him to miss the game against the Lions, with Max Brosmer stepping in as the starter.
2025 Big 10 Standings
| TEAM | CONF | OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Indiana | 15-0 | 1.000 |
| 2 Ohio State | 12-2 | .857 |
| 3 Oregon | 13-2 | .867 |
| 4 Michigan | 9-4 | .692 |
| 5 USC | 9-4 | .692 |
| 6 Iowa | 9-4 | .692 |
2025 CFB Leaders
Pass Yards Leaders: 4,379 Mestemaker, 3,973 Mensah, 3,937 Chambliss
Rush Yards Leaders: 1,661 Cook, 1,649 Hardy, 1,567 Lacy
Rec Yards Leaders: 1,291 Scudero, 1,276 Bell, 1,264 Young
Pass TD Leaders: 41 Mendoza, 34 Mensah, 34 Mestemaker
Rush TD Leaders: 25 Hawkins, 24 Lacy, 18 Hellums
Rec TD Leaders: 15 Sarratt, 14 Brown, 13 Cooper
QB Rating Leaders: 182.9 Mendoza, 177.5 Sayin, 170.4 Pavia
Sack Leaders: 14.5 Bailey, 14.5 Tucker, 12.5 Smith
2025 CFB Rankings
PPG Rankings: 45.1, 42.0, 41.6, 41.3, 40.5, 39.8
Opp PPG Rankings: 9.3, 11.7, 11.8, 13.3, 14.8, 15.4
Total Yards Rankings: 512.4, 489.7, 488.7, 482.9, 472.8, 472.1
Rush Yards Rankings: 285.6, 266.3, 261.4, 254.9, 246.9, 241.5
Pass Yards Rankings: 340.2, 318.0, 313.3, 309.6, 296.0, 292.8
Sack Leaders: 50.0, 46.0, 45.0, 43.0, 43.0, 41.0
Off-Field Practices and Personal Life
McCarthy's approach to football extends beyond the field. He incorporates meditation into his routine, which he credits with helping him clear his mind and manage pressure. He began leaning on meditation to battle depression.
In his personal life, McCarthy is engaged to his high school sweetheart, Katya Kuropas. Together, they announced the birth of their son in September 2025.
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