J.J. McCarthy sends 3-word message as Kevin O'Connell emerges frontrunner for 2024 Coach of the Year
When the Vikings let go of Kirk Cousins and drafted J.J. McCarthy, the hope was that Kevin O'Connell would be able to mold the rookie to make them contenders for the future. However, the plan changed when the college champion suffered an injury before the regular season began and Sam Darnold took over as starter.
What many thought would be a year of transition has instead panned out very differently. Kevin O'Connell has led the Vikings to a 12-2 record, which is the joint best in the NFC along with the Detroit Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles. They have already booked their playoff spot and are one of the favorites for the Super Bowl.
The reason people thought the Vikings would tail off after McCarthy's injury was based on Sam Darnold's previous record in the league. Instead, the Minnesota head coach has turned his career around and has him playing at an MVP level. This has led many people to declare Kevin O'Connell the presumptive favorite for the Coach of the Year award.
J.J. McCarthy certainly believes that nobody deserves it more than his head coach and took to Instagram to give his comments. Taking the image from the Vikingzfanpage, he posted a story with an additional note on Tuesday,
"Ain't no debate"
Kevin O'Connell has decision to make about J.J. McCarthy's Vikings' future
The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft with the plan to make him the franchise starter for the future. Sam Darnold was merely supposed to be a stopgap. However, the former Jets quarterback is himself a first-round pick and has more than 3,500 yards this season, 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 104.9.
Kevin O'Connell has brought the best out of Sam Darnold after a nomadic career and it would be foolhardy to part with him after this season. With J.J. McCarthy not taking a single snap in his rookie season due to injury, next year will effectively be his maiden year. But giving the incumbent quarterback a new contract would mean that it could hinder McCarthy's pathway to the starting job.
These are excellent problems for anyone to have. However, Kevin O'Connell does not have time to think about this yet as he seeks to become the NFC top seed and guide the Vikings to their first-ever Super Bowl victory.