Lead: On Monday night, Sept. 8, 2025, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy engineered a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to beat the Chicago Bears 27-24 and open the 2025 season with a victory. McCarthy completed eight of 11 passes in the decisive quarter and accounted for three fourth-quarter touchdowns, rallying a team that trailed by double digits entering the final period. The win marked McCarthy’s first career NFL victory after missing the previous season with a knee injury. The performance offers a first substantial sample of the quarterback the Vikings selected 10th overall in the 2024 draft.
Key takeaways
- McCarthy led Minnesota to a 27-24 win over Chicago on Monday, completing 8 of 11 passes in the fourth quarter and producing three touchdowns in that period.
- He was the Vikings’ No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and was one of five quarterbacks selected among the top 12 picks that year.
- McCarthy missed the 2024 season after tearing a meniscus in the first preseason game versus the Las Vegas Raiders; he returned to game action in 2025.
- Raised outside Chicago, McCarthy grew up a Bears fan before transferring from an Illinois high school to IMG Academy in Florida in 2020.
- He started his college career at the University of Michigan and was part of Michigan’s national championship as a senior under coach Jim Harbaugh.
- Off the field, McCarthy is engaged to Katya Kuropas; the couple announced they are expecting their first child in September 2025.
- McCarthy cites meditation and journaling as daily habits he uses for recovery, preparation and mental conditioning.
Background
J.J. McCarthy grew up in Illinois in a suburb of Chicago and has said the Bears were the first NFL team he saw in person at age four. He completed his early high school years in Illinois before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in 2020, where he rose to the top tier of national high-school quarterback prospects.
McCarthy matriculated to the University of Michigan, where he was coached by Jim Harbaugh and played through a program that emphasized pro-style reads and mental preparation. During his senior season he was part of a Michigan team that captured the national title, a credential that factored into his first-round status in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Main event
The Vikings opened Week 1 of the 2025 season against NFC North rival Chicago in a game that tilted late in Minnesota’s favor. After falling behind by double digits entering the fourth quarter, the Vikings executed a comeback that centered on quick-strike passing and situational play-calling. McCarthy completed eight of 11 throws in the fourth, and he produced three touchdowns in that period that ultimately provided the margin of victory.
Game scripts showed McCarthy operating efficiently in high-leverage sequences: short, accurate completions to move the chains and two goal-line or red-zone touchdown plays that flipped momentum. The offense converted critical third downs in the final quarter, and Minnesota’s defense delivered timely stops to preserve the lead after the comeback.
For McCarthy personally, the win was a milestone after a season lost to a torn meniscus suffered in the preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. The quick impact on Monday night — both statistically and in the eye test — gives the Vikings a clearer read on his readiness as a Week 1 starter and the team’s short-term outlook at quarterback.
Analysis & implications
Short term, Monday’s result shifts immediate expectations: the Vikings now have a working starter who can deliver in late-game situations, at least from this sample. A late-quarter surge that produced three touchdowns suggests McCarthy can manage pressure moments and execute the team’s scripted two-minute or come-from-behind sequences.
From a health perspective, returning from a torn meniscus and producing at this level so soon is a positive sign, but teams and medical staffs will continue monitoring workload and mobility throughout the season. Knee injuries can recur or affect playing style; the Vikings will need to balance his reps with injury prevention plans.
Strategically, defenses will now study how Minnesota utilized quick targeting and play-action in the fourth quarter, which could lead opponents to emphasize disrupting timing and altering pre-snap looks. McCarthy’s accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws will be a focal point for both the Vikings’ play design and opposing gameplans.
Longer term, McCarthy’s draft status (10th overall) and pedigree—IMG Academy, Michigan national champion—mean the franchise will afford him developmental leeway, but sustained production will be necessary to justify long-term starter investment. The Week 1 performance reduces short-term pressure but doesn’t remove the need for consistent execution over a full season.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Monday (vs. Bears) | Draft / Background |
|---|---|---|
| Completions / Attempts (4th Q) | 8 / 11 | — |
| Fourth-quarter TDs | 3 | — |
| Final score | Vikings 27, Bears 24 | — |
| Draft position | — | 10th overall, 2024 |
| 2024 season | — | Missed after torn meniscus in preseason |
This simple table highlights the game-day performance metrics tied to McCarthy’s draft and medical history. The contrast between draft pedigree and the missed 2024 campaign frames how the Vikings and league evaluators weigh potential and availability.
Reactions & quotes
McCarthy described his mental routine as central to his recovery and readiness, saying his meditation and journaling practices help him reset and focus.
As reported by Star Tribune (media)
Vikings staff and teammates noted the comeback demonstrated the roster’s resilience and McCarthy’s composure on critical downs.
Paraphrase of postgame team comments (Minnesota Vikings, official)
Analysts at national outlets flagged the performance as an early indicator McCarthy can handle late-game tempo, while cautioning that a single contest is a limited sample.
National sports analysts (media)
Unconfirmed
- Whether McCarthy will retain the starting job long term remains unconfirmed and depends on performance across multiple games.
- The precise due date for McCarthy and Katya Kuropas’s child is reported as this month but has not been publicly confirmed with a calendar date.
- Long-term implications of the 2024 meniscus tear on career durability require more data over the coming seasons and have not been established.
Bottom line
Monday’s comeback and McCarthy’s individual output provided a moment of validation for the Vikings’ investment in the 10th overall pick. The sequence showed accuracy, calm under pressure and an ability to execute in clutch situations — all encouraging signs for a young quarterback returning from injury.
Still, one game is an early data point. The organization will weigh his physical management, film review on reads and decision-making under varied defensive looks as the season progresses. For fans and evaluators alike, the takeaway is cautious optimism: McCarthy passed an important first test, but consistency and health will determine whether this win is the start of a sustained trajectory.