The Minnesota Vikings quietly finished the season with a winning record, but an early elimination from playoff contention caused their year to largely fly under the radar.
Minnesota’s biggest strength was its defense, which finished in or around the top five in the NFL. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ performance has not gone unnoticed, as he is now considered a candidate for multiple head coaching vacancies around the league.
Offensive Uncertainty Clouds Winning Season
On offense, the Vikings received 10 starts from second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who continues to battle injuries early in his career. While the team posted a winning record in games he started, McCarthy’s individual performances left plenty to be desired.
McCarthy finished the season with 1,632 passing yards, a 57.6% completion percentage, 11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 72.6.
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – JANUARY 04: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
The Vikings remain committed to McCarthy as the quarterback they want to build around next season, but it is clear they need much stronger insurance behind him to avoid another collapse like the one they experienced this year.
That decision goes beyond simply finding a veteran backup — it raises the larger question of whether the organization is fully all-in on McCarthy.
On Tuesday, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addressed the media and was asked directly if he wants McCarthy to be the Vikings’ quarterback in 2026.
“I want the Vikings to achieve their goals… I think he has the character and ability to be the person to do that for this organization… it’s my job to bring that deep and competitive room that we’ve talked about to the Vikings.”
While supportive in tone, the response offered limited reassurance for a quarterback heading into a critical year. Both the front office and coaching staff face a tight timeline this offseason to solidify the quarterback position and stabilize the offense.
Cris Carter Believes Vikings Will Stick With McCarthy — For Now
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Adofo-Mensah also did not close the door on the possibility of Daniel Jones returning to Minnesota next season. After a brief stint with the Vikings, Jones signed with the Indianapolis Colts before the 2025 season and led the team to an 8-4 record before rupturing his Achilles in early December. Adofo-Mensah acknowledged that having Jones in the quarterback room to push McCarthy could have benefited the team.
However, Vikings legend Cris Carter believes McCarthy will remain the starter — even if questions remain about his long-term ceiling.
Speaking with Heavy.com via covers.com, which helps find sportsbook promos, Carter expressed skepticism about McCarthy’s readiness while acknowledging the organization’s likely direction.
“They’re gonna go with J.J. McCarthy.,” he said. “They’re tryna get as many reps as possible. Hope he has a good offseason, stays healthy. But he’s going to the starter when they start the 2026 season, regardless of what anyone thinks, that is what is going to happen. He’s the first-round pick two seasons ago and going into his third season. They need to make sure they exhaust every resource in trying to turn him into a player and find out if he’s a player, because right now, no one knows.”
Minnesota ‘Needs to Find Out if J.J. McCarthy is a Player,’ Vikings Legend Says