Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow on Monday, which, according to tradition, means six more weeks of winter. And while most folks were bracing for a longer cold spell, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy somehow got caught in the crossfire - courtesy of a viral jab on social media.
One post making the rounds summed it up with a biting bit of sarcasm:
“Punxsutawney Phil & his ancestors have an accuracy rate of 39% going back to 1887. He is still better than JJ McCarthy.”
Now, to be fair, McCarthy wasn’t quite that inaccurate. He completed 57.6% of his passes during the 2025 season. But in today's NFL, where efficient quarterback play is the floor for playoff contention, that number just doesn’t cut it - especially on a roster built to win now.
The Vikings entered 2025 with high expectations and a roster that looked playoff-ready on paper. The defense had its moments, the skill positions were stocked, and the offensive line held up more often than not.
But the quarterback room - McCarthy included - never found its rhythm. Whether it was inexperience, inconsistency, or simply not being ready for the moment, the production under center just wasn’t there.
And in this league, if you don’t have a quarterback, you don’t have a shot.
Now, Minnesota heads into the offseason facing the same question they’ve been trying to answer for years: Who’s the guy? McCarthy was a long-term bet, and while it’s too early to write him off entirely, the Vikings can’t afford to wait around hoping for a leap that may or may not come.
A quarterback competition seems inevitable. Whether that means bringing in a veteran to push McCarthy, drafting another young passer, or exploring the trade market - the Vikings have to explore every option. Because what they can’t afford is another season where the rest of the roster is playoff-caliber, but the quarterback play keeps them stuck in neutral.
Minnesota fans know the feeling all too well: watching a talented team fall short, again and again, because the most important position in sports isn’t pulling its weight. It’s starting to feel a bit like Groundhog Day - and not just because of the calendar.