The Minnesota Vikings' 2025 season was a mixed bag - flashes of promise, long stretches of frustration, and a quarterback carousel that never quite stopped spinning. But if there’s one thing that’s becoming clear as the offseason unfolds, it’s this: Justin Jefferson is planting his flag next to J.J. McCarthy.
After a 9-8 finish that left Minnesota just outside the playoff picture, Jefferson isn’t calling for a veteran arm or lobbying for a high-profile draft pick. Instead, he’s throwing his full support behind the young quarterback who’s still finding his footing in the NFL. Appearing on the Up & Adams Show, the three-time All-Pro made it known - McCarthy is his guy.
“As of right now, JJ is my quarterback,” Jefferson told Kay Adams. “For me, it's to get him to where we need to go. And it starts off right now in the offseason.”
That kind of endorsement from one of the league’s premier receivers isn’t just lip service. It’s a clear signal to the locker room - and maybe even the front office - that Jefferson sees something worth building around in the second-year QB.
Let’s be real: McCarthy’s 2025 numbers won’t be hanging in Canton anytime soon. After missing his entire rookie campaign due to injury, he returned to start 10 games, finishing with 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. His 72.6 passer rating put him near the bottom of the league, and the growing pains were obvious - especially when it came to syncing up with Jefferson.
"As of right now, JJ [McCarthy] is my quarterback. For me, it's to get him to where we need to go."
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 4, 2026
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson on his QB and holding teammates accountable@JJettas2 | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/l9LBBswE4e
For the first time in his career, Jefferson’s production took a noticeable dip. He still managed to notch 84 catches for 1,048 yards - extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to six - but he found the end zone just twice, a career low. That’s not the kind of stat line we’re used to seeing from a player who’s made a habit of torching secondaries since the moment he entered the league.
The low point? A rough Week 12 loss to the Packers where McCarthy threw for just 87 yards and two interceptions.
The offense sputtered, the rhythm was off, and the frustration was palpable. But in a bit of poetic symmetry, the season finale against those same Packers offered a glimmer of hope.
Minnesota won 16-3, and Jefferson looked like his old self, hauling in eight catches for 101 yards. It wasn’t flashy, but it was functional - a step in the right direction.
So why is Jefferson so confident in McCarthy, despite the rocky start? It’s not just about arm strength or stats - it’s about leadership, presence, and the intangibles that don’t show up on the box score.
“JJ is a really good quarterback,” Jefferson said. “He's a great leader, he's a great motivator.”
That matters, especially in a Vikings locker room that saw three different quarterbacks take snaps last season - McCarthy, Sam Darnold, and Max Brosmer. That kind of instability can derail even the most talented rosters. By publicly backing McCarthy, Jefferson is doing more than just offering encouragement - he’s setting the tone early, hoping to bring clarity and direction heading into a pivotal 2026 campaign.
Minnesota still has plenty of questions to answer this offseason. But with their franchise wideout stepping into a leadership role and doubling down on his belief in McCarthy, the Vikings may finally have a foundation to build on. The J.J.-to-J.J. connection didn’t fully click in Year One - but don’t be surprised if it starts to take off in Year Two.