Kevin O’Connell says the quiet part out loud about the Minnesota Vikings’ future at quarterback

J.J. McCarthy’s struggles this season have changed Kevin O’Connell’s perspective on the Vikings’ future at quarterback.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Jan 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have an uncertain future at the quarterback position, and it will be the through line of the 2026 offseason. Head coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear they won’t start the season with just J.J. McCarthy at quarterback, and they will have competition.

“I think there has to be [competition],” said O’Connell in Tuesday’s press conference. “I think that’s what’s going to make everybody better in that room. It’s going to be what makes our entire offense thrive through that competition.”

Kevin O’Connell confirms quarterback competition this offseason

Going into the 2024 season, the Vikings were confident that McCarthy would develop into the franchise quarterback they expected with the 10th overall pick. Through two seasons, he’s played in just 10 of 35 possible games, throwing 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while ranking poorly in the underlying metrics like EPA/dropback, success rate, and CPOE.

Even with the improvement at the end of season, it’s not enough to give him the job, and O’Connell doesn’t just think there should be competition; he wants it.

“I absolutely want a competitive situation,” said O’Connell. “Obviously, J.J. [McCarthy] is going to be a major, major emphasis for our staff and our team and me personally, and we’ll figure out what that looks like as we navigate the early part of this offseason when it comes to managing the roster.

“I think ultimately, we’ve got to decide how to not only continue J.J.’s progression, allow him to continue to ascend as a young player, 22-years-old with 10 starts, but at the same time, like I said, I think the competition in that room will only enhance our entire team.”

There will be some intriguing options for the Vikings at quarterback. The first one is Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, who was already linked to the Vikings in a trade. There will be plenty of others linked to Minnesota, as O’Connell, paired with the bevy of weapons at his disposal, will be very enticing.

The Vikings will be looking at multiple paths to make the team better, and that decision could cost O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah their jobs.

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