The Minnesota Vikings‘ 2025 NFL season is over, but that doesn’t mean that the news cycle stops. On Jan. 10, the league announced its Gameday Accountability report for Week 18, and Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy was among the fined players.
As part of the fine process, players are notified of violations and may appeal any ruling. Moreover, the cases are heard by appeals officers and former NFL players, Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, or Jordy Nelson, who are jointly appointed and paid by the NFL/NFLPA.
Once the officers and former players issue the decision, it is final and binding. Regarding McCarthy, the Vikings signal caller is being fined for an incident in the first quarter at the 12:19 mark, which the NFL is classifying as unsportsmanlike conduct for taunting the opposing team.
As a result, the league is fining McCarthy $11,593 for the incident in the win over the Green Bay Packers.
Vikings Get Clear Offseason Message for QB Position
McCarthy will be at the heart of the Vikings’ offseason as the front office determines how the quarterback position could look in 2026. Will Minnesota pursue a signal-caller that simply backs up McCarthy or one that can challenge him for the starting role on a team that wants to get back to the playoffs after missing out this season?
Regardless, “Up & Adams” host Kay Adams sent a strong message on Jan. 6 about the team’s QB situation and what needs to be done this offseason.
“I’m not writing J.J. off,” Adams said. “I have questions, and he’s got something to prove a little bit, right? They can’t go into the offseason intent on running it back just because he’s a first-round pick, who everybody really likes in the building. I don’t know. There are a bunch of quarterbacks who are on the move, potentially: Kyler [Murray], Tua [Tagovailoa]. I talked to Kirk Cousins. Could he come back? [Aaron] Rodgers could be available again if he looks this good. Rodgers could be available again. He’s said to be a free agent.
“I would say, if you are the Vikings, you have to. It’s your responsibility to check every open door, every phone call, respond to every text, send them on your own, and they need to really figure it out. They cannot lose another, have another crap season because of the quarterback position. They can’t do it. So, they got to figure that.”
Minnesota Appear to Be Backing J.J. McCarthy
Despite many wanting the Vikings to keep an open mind at quarterback, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune shared the latest he knows about the Vikings’ plan for the position after one season with McCarthy as the starter.
“I don’t think you’re going to go out and pay a quarterback market-level money to compete with J.J. McCarthy,” Goessling said during a Jan. 6 appearance on KFAN1003. “If you’re bringing somebody in, it’s somebody who’s going to start. In that case, you’re probably trying to trade J.J. McCarthy and not having that battle back-and-forth.
“If you’re talking about somebody making not market-level money, then that person is not going to necessarily have a claim on the job, which means it is going to be a competition, which means that person that you bring in probably has something of a ceiling.
“So that, I think, would play in McCarthy’s favor. He’s been in the system; I think the hope would be that he continues to develop, continues to mature.”
NFL Announces Week 18 Punishment for Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy