Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sends Strong Message on J.J. McCarthy’s Leadership

J.J. McCarthy is still just 22 years old with hardly any experience as an NFL quarterback. But he certainly didn’t look it Monday night in Chicago.

McCarthy engineered a thrilling comeback in his first NFL start, impressing teammates with his poise and maturity under pressure as he accounted for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ 27-24 win over the rival Bears.

“He’s different up here,” Vikings running back Aaron Jones said postgame, pointing to his head. “It’s just his mentality. … He’s a special guy. I’m blessed to have him here.”

The 2024 first-round pick — who missed his entire rookie season with a meniscus tear in his right knee — finished 13-of-20 for 143 yards through the air to go with 25 yards rushing.

McCarthy Showed His Resolve in 4th Quarter

McCarthy showed his moxie in the second half, shaking off a 74-yard pick six by Nashon Wright that put Chicago up 17-6 early in the third quarter.

Sometime after that, McCarthy offered a message that stuck with Jones.

“J.J. runs into the huddle — I think it was after one of the TV timeouts or something — he looks at us and he’s like, ‘Is there anyplace else you guys would rather be?’” Jones recalled. “We’re all like, ‘Wow.’ … Having that sense to motivate us in that way, it was special.”

McCarthy was nearly flawless in the fourth quarter, completing 6-of-8 passes for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a 27-yard strike to Jones that gave Minnesota a 20-17 lead with 9:46 left.

On the next possession, McCarthy added a touchdown of his own, scoring on a 14-yard run to make it 27-17.

As impressive as McCarthy’s performance was, nothing about it seemed to surprise his peers.

“I told him at halftime: ‘You are going to bring us back to win this game, and the look in his eye was fantastic,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “And the best thing was just the belief I felt from that team, and ultimately, that doesn’t get done without him in the second half.”

McCarthy Makes History in Ushering Comeback

McCarthy joined rare company in leading the Vikings back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut. Per ESPN, the last quarterback to do so was Steve Young in 1985. Since 1950, McCarthy is the only such quarterback to do so on the road.

McCarthy also became the first player, period, to account for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut.

McCarthy’s ability to win, no matter the circumstances, continues to be evident. Since McCarthy’s sophomore year of high school, his record as a starting quarterback is an incredible 63-4. That, of course, includes a national championship to cap his final season at Michigan.

Said star receiver Justin Jefferson: “We knew he had that dog in him.”

Amon-Ra St. Brown Throws Playful Shade at Former Lions’ OC Ben Johnson

The Detroit Lions are expecting a rowdy environment at Ford Field for the 2025 home opener.

Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is not going to be welcomed by the crowd, many of whom still harbor resentment he chose to leave the Lions to join a division rival.

Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown expressed he is ready for everyone to boo Detroit's former offensive coordinator. Guest Rome Odunze indicated Johnson is ready for a passionate crowd at Ford Field.

"Week 2 is going to be so crazy, I promise you it's going to be so electric," said St. Brown on last week's episode of his podcast. ... "As soon as Ben walks in there, we're booing him. I don't give a f**k. We are all booing him."

Speaking to reporters, the Bears first-year head coach feels like environment will be playoff-like.

“Maybe (a silent count) will help this week. We’re going to need to do that and we’re going to need to be really good at that because this is going to be a loud environment that we’re going to,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “This is going to be a playoff-like atmosphere. Ford Field has been something else over the last couple of years so we’re going to have to be at our best.”

Dan Campbell expressed this week he feels he is on an even playing field with Johnson, but really wants his team to hone in the fundamentals, as the Lions had far too many missed assignments against the Packers.

“I think we’re on equal playing ground really. I think it’s the same thing. He knows what we’re about, we know what he’s about and because of that you’re going to play that game a little bit," said Campbell. "But the game doesn’t matter if you don’t master the basics inside the game and so that’s what we have to get back to. We’ve got to worry about ourselves right now and just hone in on the little things.”

Despite Johnson coaching in the division, Johson and Campbell remain friends.

"No, listen, Ben’s my friend. He’s always going to be my friend," said Campbell. "But nothing about that’s going to change. We’re going in, getting ready to play Chicago, we’re going to win this game, we have to. We’ve got to find a way to clean things up and do what we’ve got to do and they’re going to try to do the same thing. It’s like every week.”