JJ McCarthy Makes NFL History in Minnesota Vikings Debut vs Bears
September 9, 2025
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Michael Gallagher covers national trending news across the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football and entertainment for Newsweek.
He brings over a decade of writing and editing experience in sports journalism, has won multiple Tennessee Press Association awards, and covered several notable events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game, and an NHL Stadium Series.
His previous bylines can be found on Athlon Sports, Yahoo Sports, The Hockey News, Fox Sports, the Nashville Scene, the Nashville Post, Yardbarker, and SB Nation. You can read more of Michael’s work by following him on X @MGsports_.
Michael Gallagher
Contributing Sports Writer
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After missing his entire rookie season with a torn meniscus during the 2024 preseason, quarterback J.J. McCarthy finally got his shot to show the Minnesota Vikings what he can do.
Minnesota was cautious with McCarthy during the preseason.
The 22-year-old signal-caller played just one series, completing 4 of 7 passes for 30 yards and rushing one time for eight yards in the team’s preseason opener against the Houston Texans.
Given the limited amount of playing he got in the preseason, it came as little surprise that the former No. 10 overall pick looked a bit rusty in the first half of his first career NFL start against the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.”
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J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after running into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025… J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates after running into the end zone for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Chicago looked dominant through the first three quarters, holding a 17-6 lead after McCarthy threw a 74-yard pick-6 to Bears defensive back Nahshon Wright.
But in the fourth quarter, McCarthy seemed to have flipped a switch.
The Michigan alum completed 6 of 8 passes for 87 yards, two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown on three Minnesota scoring drives to turn 17-6 deficit into a 27-17 lead late in the fourth quarter.
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The Bears added a late touchdown on a 1-yard pass from Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze, but the Vikings defense held strong to finish off the win.
McCarthy’s final stat line reads as follows: 13 completions on 20 pass attempts, 143 yards passing, two touchdowns, one interception, two rushes, 25 yards, and another touchdown.
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Not only is McCarthy 1-0 in his NFL career, but he also made a little bit of history as well.
He became the first player in NFL history to score account for three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of his NFL debut, per the “Monday Night Football” broadcast.
He’s also one of just two players to throw multiple passing touchdowns in his Vikings debut, joining franchise legend Fran Tarkenton, who also did so back in 1961.
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