J.J. McCarthy’s move from Minnesota to New York gives both sides a clean break and a new shot.
The former Michigan quarterback was traded Monday from the Vikings to the Giants, according to Jordan Schultz of the Bleacher Report, ending a run in Minnesota that never really got off the ground. McCarthy, who led Michigan football to the national championship during the 2023 season, went 10th overall to the Vikings in the 2024 NFL draft with the idea that he would become their long-term answer under center.
That plan unraveled quickly. McCarthy suffered a season-ending injury during the preseason in 2024, wiping out his rookie year before it even started and costing him a full season of development. Minnesota later watched Sam Darnold guide the team to the NFC North Title in 2024, then moved on from him and handed the job to McCarthy.
The results were uneven. In 10 starts, McCarthy went 6-4.
He accounted for three total touchdowns in four of those starts and did have one bright early moment, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week after producing three touchdowns and leading a comeback win over the Bears in Week 1 of 2025. But the season never really settled in his favor.
He was injured again, the offensive line struggled, and the offense never found its rhythm.
McCarthy finished 2025 completing 57.4 percent of his passes. In his second year under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, he ended the season with 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and four rushing touchdowns. He also had one game-winning drive and one fourth-quarter comeback.
New York, though, offers a different path. Jaxson Dart is out for the season, and the Giants have a roster that had some people talking about playoff contention even after that injury. John Harbaugh is also a familiar face for McCarthy, since his brother coached McCarthy in college, and the two have surely discussed what went wrong in the NFL.
From the Giants’ perspective, the deal carries little downside. Jameis Winston is the starter for now, and New York is 2-1.
If McCarthy gets his chance and figures it out, the payoff could be real. If not, the Giants have not given up much.
For McCarthy, it’s a needed reset. He’s 100 percent, and with more experience, there’s still a chance his career can get moving in the right direction.
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