Kevin Seifert
EAGAN, Minn. — J.J. McCarthy appeared to have an edge all through his triumphant return Sunday because the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback. On a number of events in the course of the Vikings' 27-24 victory over the Detroit Lions, and in a single viral second within the postgame locker room, McCarthy's usually joyous face was scrunched right into a imply mug.
Talking on Wednesday with reporters, McCarthy acknowledged his new game-day persona. He referred to it by a reputation — “9,” a reference to his jersey quantity — and mentioned it's a product of the anger constructed up over lacking 23 of his first 25 NFL video games due to damage. McCarthy missed all of his rookie season due to a torn meniscus in his proper knee and 5 video games this season due to a excessive proper ankle sprain.
“It actually type of began to indicate up this yr,” he mentioned, “and it happened final yr throughout IR. Simply by no means had a full season, the place you wish to be on the market so freaking dangerous, however you'll be able to't. It was simply this built-up anger that was type of prepared to only explode, and I selected to harness it as a substitute of letting it go right into a self-destructive type of means.”
The Vikings have gained two of McCarthy's three begins this season. He accounted for 3 touchdowns in every of the wins, in Week 1 over the Chicago Bears after which Sunday towards the Lions.
On Sunday, McCarthy was caught staring intensely at coach Kevin O'Connell as he gave a postgame speech.
pure dawg 🔥@jjmccarthy09 | @Vikings pic.twitter.com/uXxMDALN9m
— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2025
O'Connell joked Wednesday that he has realized to “get the hell out of the best way for my very own private security” when addressing McCarthy throughout these moments.
“I type of love feeding that wolf,” McCarthy mentioned, “as a result of my whole life at [the University of Michigan], there was a smiley face on my hand, and [if] you smile, and you've got enjoyable, you are going to play higher and all that — which is true. However I additionally assume there's numerous energy that comes from that built-up anger that you could transmute into your efficiency.”
