Pressure On O’Connell, McCarthy Ramps Up As Vikings Prepare For 2025

The heat is squarely on quarterback J.J. McCarthy as the Minnesota Vikings get set to open training camp July 22. That’s the date that all team members must report, but quarterbacks and rookies must show up at the Eagan, MN two days earlier.

As the offseason comes to its conclusion, the overall assessment of this year’s team is that it’s all out there in front of Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores to take the Vikings to the Super Bowl.

It’s not unanimous, but a majority of NFL observers believe that the additions of center Ryan Kelly and right guard Will Fries on the offensive line and defensive ends Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on the defensive line means that the Vikings have addressed the weaknesses that caused their two-game, end-of-season wash out against the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

There don’t appear to be any significant weaknesses on this team. There are certain areas that are not as strong or as dependable as others, but the defense has improved by wide miles from the team that O’Connell had in his first season in 2022.

It’s fair to ask if cornerbacks Isaiah Rodgers (signed two-year, $11 million contract) and Jeff Okudah (one-year, $2.35 million) can be as effective in their areas as Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard can be at the linebacker position. However, Rodgers and Okudah are proven NFL commodities and are expected to provide first-rate coverage to the top receivers they will face against NFC North competition.

Of course, there is one major question that will make or break the Vikings. O’Connell is perhaps the foremost quarterback expert among NFL head coaches. He had success with Matthew Stafford during his time with the Rams, Kirk Cousins with the Vikings and Sam Bradford last year. All of those quarterbacks had question marks next to their names but O’Connell brought out their best efforts.

O’Connell has thrown his full support behind McCarthy even though he has not even come close to throwing his first NFL pass. His rookie season came to a conclusion after his first preseason game as a result of a knee injury, but O’Connell clearly believes that McCarthy has greatness stamped on his resume and that all of his talent will become apparent at some time during the season.

McCarthy is the highest drafted quarterback in Vikings history and he comes with arm strength, athleticism and accuracy. Those notable strengths are joined by leadership and the ability to come through under pressure.

McCarthy led Michigan to the national championship during the 2023 season, the first time the Wolverines were the undisputed No. 1 team in the country since 1948. They shared the national title with Nebraska during the 1997 season, but McCarthy took them to another level.

In O’Connell’s mind, McCarthy came through under the heaviest pressure and that means he is the ideal candidate to lead the Vikings to the promised land. The Vikings have never won a Super Bowl and haven’t even been to one since the 1977 season when they lost their fourth appearance in the championship game.

McCarthy must mimic the great Fran Tarkenton

Despite having the game’s dominant defense and a brilliant quarterback in Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, the Vikings lost Super Bowls to the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders. They have failed in every attempt to get back to the Super Bowl since that painful 32-14 loss to John Madden’s Raiders.

The Vikings have had success with O’Connell as the team’s head coach, winning 13 games and the NFC North in his first year and 14 games last season. Now he must show he can win playoff games and take the team to the Super Bowl.

O’Connell has made his bet and he has put his money on McCarthy. He will start ramping up when camp opens and then must be at a winning level when the Vikings open the season on Monday night, September 8 in Chicago.

The regular season will provide the proving ground for McCarthy and then the biggest test will come when the Vikings start their postseason run. O’Connell has demonstrated that he knows what he is doing, but he is clearly putting his reputation on the line with his backing of McCarthy.