Rival Coach Throws Major Shade at J.J. McCarthy After Polarizing Vikings Claim

The 2026 offseason figures to bring some changes to the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback room, at the very least in the form of competition for J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy has become a lightning rod for criticism, for himself and the Vikings.

Most recently, a rival coach shaded McCarthy along with several of his 2024 draft mates.

The Vikings face two solutions: McCarthy develops as they hoped, or they find another option who is or can be the QB they envision running head coach Kevin O’Connell’s offense.

J.J. McCarthy Catches Shade Over Rival QB

GettyJ.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before a game against the Green Bay Packers.

McCarthy and the Vikings have been in offseason mode since the 2025 regular season ended, failing to earn a playoff spot. However, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton referenced the second-year QB and others in the 2024 draft class during his season-ending presser.

Payton fielded a question about Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, the No. 12 pick in 2024, who suffered a broken bone in his ankle during the playoffs.

Despite the setback, Payton cited Nix’s injury history relative to McCarthy and his other peers.

“He’s been one of those players that, I would say, has been available,” Payton told reporters during his season-ending media availability on January 27. “There were others in that draft class that weren’t as available.”

Nix has started all 34 possible games during the regular season with the Broncos, led the NFL in pass attempts in 2025, and has back-to-back 10-plus-win seasons and postseason berths.

Nix’s 2025 Broncos made their first AFC Championship Game since Peyton Manning in 2015.

McCarthy has played in 10 games, missing the entire 2024 season due to a torn meniscus and various parts of the 2025 campaign with different issues. When he has been on the field, McCarthy has been the least accurate QB over the past two seasons among qualifiers.

His 66.5% on-target throw percentage ranks 45th out of as many qualifying QBs (those with at least 140 combined attempts in 2024 and 2025), per Stathead.

However, Payton’s apparent shade runs deeper than stats.

Sean Payton Took Victory Lap About Vikings’ Trade for J.J. McCarthy

GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Payton drew attention during the 2024 draft cycle, suggesting that he feigned interest in McCarthy in efforts to bait a team into taking the QB, who faced questions about his passing prowess after limited exposure in that regard during a championship-winning collegiate career.

“I was actively involved in trying to pretend we were moving forward [in our pursuit of McCarthy],” Payton told reporters in April 2024.

McCarthy said he believed the Broncos had an interest in him.

“Yes, I did think [there was a chance I would be a Bronco],” McCarthy said, per The Purple Persuasion later in the month. “You know, that was kind of my two spots that I really felt like, you know, I was gonna go after seeing the first six picks. And, you know, both great spots, but I’m extremely excited to stay in the Midwest and play for coach O’Connell.”

Former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who is now in the same role with the Tennessee Titans, called the Vikings’ trade up with his then-club from No. 11 to 10th overall “free money,” while former NY general manager Joe Douglas was visibly excited about the deal.

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