Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (1), left, and quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) celebrate after running back Jordan Mason (27) scored a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Look at this list of Super Bowl Quarterbacks. How many of them took their team to the Super Bowl in their 1st season starting? How many were “ready” to just “managae the team” into the posteason with the 1st season starting? The Vikings as an organization felt differently.
From the GM to the head choach. The entire team was all in on JJ.
The Vikings were going to defy history. They were going to build a strong team around their annointed QB1. The rest of the NFL is right. The Vikings were wrong.
https://www.docsports.com/current/super-bowl-winning-quarterbacks.html
Super Bowl 1. Bart Starr (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 2. Bart Starr (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 3. Joe Namath (MVP), 0 TDs
Super Bowl 4. Len Dawson (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 5. John Unitas (Chuck Howley), 1 TD
Super Bowl 6. Roger Staubach (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 7. Bob Griese (Jake Scott), 1 TD
Super Bowl 8. Bob Griese (Larry Csonka), 0 TDs
Super Bowl 9. Terry Bradshaw (Franco Harris), 1 TD
Super Bowl 10. Terry Bradshaw (Lynn Swann), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 11. Ken Stabler (Fred Biletnikoff), 1 TD
Super Bowl 12. Roger Staubach (Harvey Martin & Randy White), 1 TDs
Super Bowl 13. Terry Bradshaw (MVP), 4 TDs
Super Bowl 14. Terry Bradshaw (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 15. Jim Plunkett (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 16. Joe Montana (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 17. Joe Theismann (John Riggins), 2 TDs,
Super Bowl 18. Jim Plunkett (Marcus Allen), 1 TD
Super Bowl 19. Joe Montana (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 20. Jim McMahon (Richard Dent), 0 TDs
Super Bowl 21. Phil Simms (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 22. Doug Williams (MVP), 4 TDs
Super Bowl 23. Joe Montana (Jerry Rice), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 24. Joe Montana (MVP), 5 TDs
Super Bowl 25. Jeff Hostetler (Ottis Anderson), 1 TD
Super Bowl 26. Mark Rypien (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 27. Troy Aikman (MVP), 4 TDs
Super Bowl 28. Troy Aikman (Emmitt Smith), O TDs
Super Bowl 29. Steve Young (MVP), 6 TDs
Super Bowl 30. Troy Aikman (Larry Brown), 1 TD
Super Bowl 31. Brett Favre (Desmond Howard), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 32. John Elway (Terrell Davis), 0 TDs
Super Bowl 33. John Elway (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 34. Kurt Warner (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 35. Trent Dilfer (Ray Lewis), 1 TD
Super Bowl 36. Tom Brady (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 37. Brad Johnson (Dexter Jackson), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 38. Tom Brady (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 39. Tom Brady (Deion Branch), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 40. Ben Roethlisberger (Hines Ward), 0 TDs
Super Bowl 41. Peyton Manning (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 42. Eli Manning (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 43: Ben Roethlisberger (Santonio Holmes), 1 TD
Super Bowl 44: Drew Brees (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 45: Aaron Rogers (MVP), 3TDs
Super Bowl 46: Eli Manning (MVP), 1 TD
Super Bowl 47: Joe Flacco (MVP), 3TDs
Super Bowl 48: Russell Wilson (Malcolm Smith), 2TDs
Super Bowl 49: Tom Brady (MVP), 4TDs
Super Bowl 50: Peyton Manning (Von Miller), 0TDs
Super Bowl 51: Tom Brady (MVP), 2TDs
Super Bowl 52: Nick Foles (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 53: Tom Brady (Julian Edelman), 0TDs
Super Bowl 54: Patrick Mahomes (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 55: Tom Brady (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 56: Matthew Stafford (Cooper Kupp), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 57: Patrick Mahomes (MVP), 3 TDs
Super Bowl 58: Patrick Mahomes (MVP), 2 TDs
Super Bowl 59: Jalen Hurts (MVP), 2 TDs
- Elevated Team Performance: A true franchise QB elevates the play of everyone around them, turning role players into effective contributors. They possess high football intelligence, are tough, and exhibit rare leadership qualities that inspire confidence and allow the team to overcome adversity.
- Clutch Performance: Elite quarterbacks excel in high-stakes, late-game situations, such as the two-minute drill, where poise and experience are paramount. Since 2001, teams with top-tier or top-10-caliber QB play have won the vast majority of Super Bowls, highlighting the need for high performance when it matters most.
- Offensive Engine: Teams build their entire offense around their quarterback’s strengths, and an elite QB can still win games even without a perfect defense or if the team loses the turnover battle.
- Unrealistic Expectations vs. Readiness: The primary failure was placing immediate, high expectations on a player who was not game-day ready. McCarthy, who ran a run-first offense in college and missed most of his rookie season with a knee injury, needed time to develop and adjust to the NFL’s speed, something the team did not adequately account for.
- Performance Struggles and Injuries: McCarthy’s on-field performance in 2025 was underwhelming, with a low QB rating, more interceptions than touchdowns, and persistent issues with mechanics and accuracy. A high ankle sprain and a concussion further hampered his development, leading to a 4-7 record when he started and ultimately derailing the season.
- Lack of a Viable Backup Plan: The Vikings let veteran Sam Darnold walk in free agency (he signed a lucrative deal with Seattle) and did not secure a high-level veteran backup, leaving the team thin at the most important position. This organizational decision exposed the team when McCarthy struggled and was injured, leading to a shut-out loss with an undrafted rookie Max Brosmer at QB.
- Systemic Organizational Pressure: Front office and coaching decisions put immense pressure on McCarthy by publicly framing him as the “franchise” guy, a label he was not yet prepared for. Critics argue the organization failed McCarthy by not providing a proper environment for a project quarterback to sit and learn for a few years, instead forcing him into action and an eventual “disastrous” season.
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