Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy may have just needed some positive reinforcement Monday from head coach Kevin O’Connell.
The Vikings’ Week 1 matchup against the Chicago Bears was McCarthy’s first time playing on an NFL field — and it sure looked like it in the first half. The second-year quarterback only threw for 48 yards as Minnesota trailed 10-6 through two quarters at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
With McCarthy only throwing eight times over the first two quarters, it was fair to question how much O’Connell trusted his inexperienced signal-caller. The Vikings head coach made sure to instill confidence in McCarthy before the start of the second half.
“I told him at halftime, ‘You are going to bring us back to win this game,'” O’Connell shared during his postgame press conference.
“And the look in his eye was fantastic. The best thing is just the belief I felt from the team, the unit. And ultimately, that doesn’t get done without him in the second half.”
McCarthy made all kinds of history to close out the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the Bears. He went 6/8 for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns in the final period, and also ran in Minnesota’s decisive final TD himself.
J.J. MCCARTHY TAKES IT HIMSELF FOR THE TD!!! 🤯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 9, 2025
WHAT A SHOWING FROM THE NEW QB1 🔥
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/mdWqVuNuQw
McCarthy became the first player to ever account for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut. He also became the first starting QB since Steve Young to lead his team to a comeback of 10 or more points in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut.
When Young did it in 1985, he wasn’t on the road like McCarthy was on Monday night.
J.J. McCarthy is the first starting QB with a 10+ point 4th quarter comeback in his NFL debut since Steve Young in 1985
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 9, 2025
He is the only such QB since 1950 to do so on the road@jjmccarthy09 | #SKOL pic.twitter.com/6fAQfjocLl
O’Connell put his complete trust in McCarthy, and the Michigan alum made sure to return the favor.
