Adam Thielen Defends J.J. McCarthy’s “Nine” Persona, But the Rookie Still Has Work to Do
It was a bumpy rookie ride for J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota.
Drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft to be the Vikings’ quarterback of the future, McCarthy’s first season didn’t exactly inspire confidence. Between injuries, inconsistent play, and a viral alter ego that sparked more memes than touchdowns, the young QB had more growing pains than highlights.
But not everyone is ready to write him off just yet - especially not Adam Thielen.
The recently retired Vikings great hopped on Pardon My Take and took some time to defend McCarthy, particularly the much-talked-about “Nine” persona - McCarthy’s game-day alter ego that became internet fodder after a few awkward postgame moments. For Thielen, though, the concept behind “Nine” isn’t all that unusual.
“First of all, I love that guy,” Thielen said. “He gets a lot of heat for saying that, but I feel like all of us as athletes have that… When I’m on the field, I’m a different person.
I’m not Adam. I’m not my son’s dad… An attitude comes, a mindset, and so I understand where he’s coming from.”
That perspective carries weight. Thielen, after all, wasn’t just a fan favorite - he was a walk-on turned 12-year vet, Ring of Honor inductee, and one of the most respected players in the Vikings’ locker room. If anyone understands the mental transformation that happens when the cleats go on, it’s him.
He also shared that he got to know McCarthy during offseason workouts, back when Thielen was still with the Panthers. The two linked up for throwing sessions, and Thielen came away impressed with McCarthy’s talent and passion for the game.
But while Thielen’s defense of McCarthy’s mindset is genuine, it doesn’t erase what we saw on the field.
In 10 appearances this season, McCarthy went 6-4 as a starter. He didn’t finish every game, struggled with accuracy (completing just 57.6% of his passes), and finished the season with 11 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.
His total passing yards? 1,632 - a number that tells you everything about how limited the Vikings’ air attack was at times.
That inefficiency trickled down to the rest of the offense. Justin Jefferson - one of the most dynamic receivers in the league - needed a big Week 18 performance just to crack 1,000 yards on the season.
That’s not the standard Minnesota’s used to with No. 18 on the field. If “Nine” had truly been in control, Jefferson’s production wouldn’t have been in question.
And then there’s the optics. McCarthy’s postgame interviews and locker room clips, where he leaned into the “Nine” persona, didn’t land the way he might’ve hoped.
The confidence came off as misplaced when the performance didn’t back it up. Social media pounced, and soon enough, McCarthy’s alter ego was the punchline of the season.
None of this means McCarthy can’t turn it around. Plenty of quarterbacks have stumbled out of the gate before finding their footing. The NFL doesn’t always wait for you to get comfortable, but if McCarthy can grow from this - both on the field and in how he carries himself off it - there’s still time to rewrite the narrative.
Thielen’s message was clear: the mentality McCarthy is trying to tap into isn’t wrong. The great ones often do flip a switch when it’s game time. But the difference is, they earn that persona with performance.
McCarthy doesn’t need to ditch “Nine.” He just needs to make sure the next time he channels that alter ego, the results show up on Sundays - not just in soundbites.