J.J. McCarthy’s first start for the Giants came with a strong stat line, a win, and one very noticeable missing detail: the heavy eye paint he’d worn for years.
McCarthy, who arrived in New York from the Minnesota Vikings via trade, looked sharp again Sunday in the Giants’ 27-21 overtime victory over the Houston Texans. After flashing in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints, the third-year pro made his first start for the Giants and completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards.
But fans also caught that McCarthy didn’t have the iconic eye black he associated with his Michigan days. He explained Tuesday that the decision had everything to do with Ohio State, Michigan’s biggest rival, and nothing to do with Houston as a team.
McCarthy had long tied his game-day look to a mindset he described last year to ESPN. “I kind of make this switch when game day happens,” McCarthy told ESPN last year about the look.
“That’s when the war paint comes on. It’s like I’m ready to die on that field, and I’m ready to do anything possible to get that win.
It’s not going to look pretty, and it’s not going to look like someone just did my makeup for Halloween. It’s war paint.”
On Tuesday, he laid out why he left it off against the Texans, and he didn’t hide the root of it.
“Yeah, it is a little corny,” McCarthy said on Tuesday about not wearing eye black against Houston, via The Athletic. “Don’t get me wrong, but … you know, I guess I’m a corny guy.
I took it personal in high school, growing up an Ohio State fan, like a die-hard Ohio State fan. I had the comforter, had the Fatheads, everything.
And (it was) just a little disappointing situation. (So) at the end of the day, that’s just something that I’ll continue against all Buckeyes.”
Still, McCarthy made clear the feeling is aimed at the school, not at Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
“I love C.J., too. He’s my guy, and you know, wish him nothing but success,” McCarthy said before confirming the eye black will return to his cheeks when the Giants play again in Week 9 against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Yeah, it’s strictly just for like C.J., for sure. Maybe Kyle McCord … unless Ryan Day comes up to the NFL.
But at the end of the day, it’s just a Michigan-Ohio State thing. That’s really all it is.”
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