Looking back is easy and clear
I agree with much of this piece from LaVelle E Neal today. What he's missing is the injury piece, not an excuse but a reality unfortunately. Same thing has bit the Commodes, but they have a QB for tomorrow where as the Vikings have just a "?"
Hindsight being 20/20, I wish we would have signed Jones to compete with JJM this past summer. Handing the keys of a 14/3 team to an in-experienced rook was wrong, for JJM and the team.
Why was it so wrong? Simply because he wasn't ready to start.
I dont recall which poster said it, but I agree that the front office and coaching staffs miscalculation on the QB has set the team back immeasurably. It could be years.
And for the record, I very much supported the approach at the time.
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How did it get this bad this quickly? How did the Purple go from being a playoff-caliber team at the beginning of the season to being the caboose of the NFC North train by week 13?
You’re probably focusing on the guy under center, J.J. McCarthy, who was supposed to immediately flourish under the tutelage of offensive savant Kevin O’Connell.
But in most cases, there’s more than one reason success can be volatile from one season to the next. Here are five reasons that come to mind as I recover from my sister’s turducken.
1. Why this year?
This has been addressed elsewhere on this website in recent weeks. But here’s my take on the McCarthy saga.
I was all for drafting McCarthy. He was a winner in college and his charisma has been evident during his short professional career.
But handing him the keys to the 14-3 Maserati from 2024 reeks of organizational hubris.
The Vikings had Darnold operating at a high level. It led to him getting $100 million from Seattle.
They also had Daniel Jones in house. There was an attempt to sign him for 2025, but he opted for Indianapolis on a one-year deal for around $14 million.
The money wasn’t the problem. It was the situation.
Jones knew McCarthy was the preferred candidate going into camp and sought a more fair and balanced competition for a starting role.
“That’s been the communication,” Jones said at his introductory news conference with the Colts. “It’s an opportunity to come in and compete.”
Other things have gone wrong this season. This was failure No. 1.
Winning and developing is difficult to do in every sport. When it involves developing the most important position in sports on a team expected to win, that’s a dangerous mix.
McCarthy could have been a backup this season. Or been pushed harder to earn the job.
2. Free-agency failures
Before the 2024 season, General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah signed Jonathan Greenard, Blake Cashman and Andrew Van Ginkel to free-agent deals. They quickly became part of engine that propelled that Maserati.
For 2025, his main signings were Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. They have not had the impact of the 2024 class.
The Vikings defense isn’t sacking the quarterback or defending the run as well as they did a year ago. That’s on Hargrave and Allen, and the Vikings aren’t getting the return on their investment they needed.
Fries has been fine at guard. But Kelly’s season has been derailed by the fourth and fifth concussions of his career. It will likely force the Vikings to address the long-term future of their center position during the offseason.
Another signing, wide receiver Rondale Moore, suffered a season-ending knee injury during preseason. It would have been nice to have seen how he impacted games.
3. Europe for two?
The Vikings were the first team to play consecutive NFL games in Europe, one in Dublin, Ireland and the other in London.
The Vikings were willing participants in this plan.
My response: Why?
They had to ship some equipment across the big pond to Ireland then ferry it to England. They had to pack all the ranch dressing they could carry. Two countries and 4,000 miles later, they split two games. When injuries piled up, they had to fly in an emergency lineman between the games to have enough bodies for practice.
It was also during the trip that the McCarthy conspiracy theories about him not being injured — but benched — had O’Connell bristling. Jordan Addison was late for a walkthrough and was benched for part of the Browns game — although he made up for it with a winning touchdown grab in the fourth quarter.
Not everyone was pleased with the accommodations at one of the hotels.
O’Connell had a bird fly into his hotel room in England.
All that was missing was Chevy Chase and a misplaced camcorder.
At the end, everyone was ready to escape Europe, see their families and get back on a routine.
Note to the Wilf family: It’s great that you’re growing your brand in Europe. But you are 1-5 since that trip.
4. Not complementary football
The combination of the aforementioned elements, plus injuries, add up to a 4-7 record.
Offensive inefficiency has led to stalled drives, forcing the defense back on the field. The defense was fifth in average points allowed last season, 18th this year. They are 24th in rushing defense after being second a year ago.
The Vikings have played from behind for the majority of the season, leading at the end of just 12 of a possible 44 quarters. Only twice have they lead in all four quarters of a game. Five times, they have trailed at the end of every quarter.
It used to be the other way around, which allowed defensive coordinator Brian Flores to unleash his fire-breathing defense on opponents trying to scramble back in games. Sacks and turnovers are down this year as a result.
Last week’s loss at Green Bay was their season in a nutshell.
O’Connell dialed up runs and screen passes to try to get McCarthy off to a good start. They trailed 10-6 at halftime and stuffed the Packers on their opening drive of the third. Then, a special teams disaster as Myles Price muffed a punt. Green Bay scored a touchdown and never looked back.
All three facets of their team have rarely clicked simultaneously.
5. Sam Howell fallout
After bungling the McCarthy strategy, the Vikings still needed a backup quarterback. They settled on Sam Howell, whose 18 career starts made him the most experienced QB in the room.
Howell wasn’t good in camp.
In fact, Brett Rypien occasionally ran with the second-stringers during practices instead of him. Howell did move the ball in two possessions during the preseason opener against Houston, after which he was a little defensive when a reporter approached him before writing about him providing positive tape.
He said Minnesota was appealing to him because of O’Connell. “He’s known as kind of a quarterback whisperer,” Howell said then.
As it turned out, KOC pointing a megaphone at Howell’s ear and screaming into it wouldn’t have mattered. Howell was traded to Philadelphia and Carson Wentz was immediately signed as a replacement.
When McCarthy went down, Wentz started five games. His fifth start was painful to watch, as he grimaced through a start against the Chargers because of a left shoulder injury that would require surgery.
Yes, this could have dovetailed with my first point. But the Howell trade put the Vikings down a path that brings them to where they will be on Sunday.
Because rookie Max Brosmer most likely has the keys to what is no longer a Maserati. More like a rusting station wagon.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
"When you got a Justin Jefferson on your squad, and Addison and Hockenson and these boys, you don't waste that away by playing around at the quarterback position." 👀@stephenasmith on if it was a mistake for the Vikings going all in on J.J. McCarthy pic.twitter.com/aLkuxMb04y
— First Take (@FirstTake) November 24, 2025
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
To be fair, Addison and Hockenson have not been playing that great. Lots of work to be done. Many players will not be back next year
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. — Robin Williams
Vikergirl wrote:
To be fair, Addison and Hockenson have not been playing that great. Lots of work to be done. Many players will not be back next year
also to be fair, ball placement has been pretty suspect, some of the "drops" that have been placed on the Vikings receivers are a result of the ball not being where its supposed to be, and being fired much harder than it need to be to allow for adjustments to the bad ball placement.
Why isn't Chuck Foreman in the Hall of Fame?
JimmyinSD wrote:
also to be fair, ball placement has been pretty suspect, some of the "drops" that have been placed on the Vikings receivers are a result of the ball not being where its supposed to be, and being fired much harder than it need to be to allow for adjustments to the bad ball placement.
Both are true. Ball placement has been an issue but both Addison and Hockenson have blown it in some key plays. Jefferson has had some moments as well. It has been a shit show across the board
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it. — Robin Williams
The McCarthy saga is so strange and you just don't know where blame actually lies. How on board was KOC in the drafting of McCarthy, and how much did KOC know or have input into when the decision was made to turn the team over to McCarthy? Was acquiring Sam Howell a KOC call, and if so, how concerning is what happened with Howell and now McCarthy going forward? The only other quarterback this team has drafted under the new regime was Jaren Hall, who was awful. All I know is Kwesi has proven he doesn't know how to identify talent, and if KOC also doesn't know what he's doing...we are royally screwed as a franchise going forward if we don't make changes
Vikings made a handful of mistakes in the offseason that come to my mind. Thinking Sam Howell could be a capable QB2 and trading Mekhi Blackmon for a half-eaten box of Lemonheads. Those were head scratchers to me. But I think the decision to upgrade Bradbury with Kelly was a good one. I think the decision to upgrade Risner with Fries was a good one. I think upgrading Bullard and Tillery with Allen and Hargrave was a good one. I think drafting Donovan Jackson was a good one. Have they all been successful? Of course not. But they never are. Why are the Vikings 4-7? It has very little to do with the above. It's because JJ McCarthy isn't ready. Should the Vikings have waited to see what they had in JJ before investing so much in his surround? Maybe. But people on this board have been arguing the opposite for years.
I saw someone bitching about Danielle Hunter earlier. That's rich. A year ago that decision looked brilliant. Genius even. Greenard was better AND cheaper. That decision doesn't look as good as it did just 6 months ago. But to those incapable of critical thought, the reality of the moment defines what is, what has been and what always will be. It's exhausting and idiotic.
MaroonBells wrote:
Vikings made a handful of mistakes in the offseason that come to my mind. Thinking Sam Howell could be a capable QB2 and trading Mekhi Blackmon for a half-eaten box of Lemonheads. Those were head scratchers to me. But I think the decision to upgrade Bradbury with Kelly was a good one. I think the decision to upgrade Risner with Fries was a good one. I think upgrading Bullard and Tillery with Allen and Hargrave was a good one. I think drafting Donovan Jackson was a good one. Have they all been successful? Of course not. But they never are. Why are the Vikings 4-7? It has very little to do with the above. It's because JJ McCarthy isn't ready. Should the Vikings have waited to see what they had in JJ before investing so much in his surround? Maybe. But people on this board have been arguing the opposite for years.I saw someone bitching about Danielle Hunter earlier. That's rich. A year ago that decision looked brilliant. Genius even. Greenard was better AND cheaper. That decision doesn't look as good as it did just 6 months ago. But to those incapable of critical thought, the reality of the moment defines what is, what has been and what always will be. It's exhausting and idiotic.
I wish they had a better handle on whether McCarthy was ready or not, which brings me back to Jones...That is the big kahuna in the room. Even with Jones regressing some.
Watching Darnold tomorrow is just going to add to my acid reflux.
I'm glad I made fresh, hot cinnamon rolls this morning - helps my mood.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
MaroonBells wrote:
Vikings made a handful of mistakes in the offseason that come to my mind. Thinking Sam Howell could be a capable QB2 and trading Mekhi Blackmon for a half-eaten box of Lemonheads. Those were head scratchers to me. But I think the decision to upgrade Bradbury with Kelly was a good one. I think the decision to upgrade Risner with Fries was a good one. I think upgrading Bullard and Tillery with Allen and Hargrave was a good one. I think drafting Donovan Jackson was a good one. Have they all been successful? Of course not. But they never are. Why are the Vikings 4-7? It has very little to do with the above. It's because JJ McCarthy isn't ready. Should the Vikings have waited to see what they had in JJ before investing so much in his surround? Maybe. But people on this board have been arguing the opposite for years.I saw someone bitching about Danielle Hunter earlier. That's rich. A year ago that decision looked brilliant. Genius even. Greenard was better AND cheaper. That decision doesn't look as good as it did just 6 months ago. But to those incapable of critical thought, the reality of the moment defines what is, what has been and what always will be. It's exhausting and idiotic.
You missed the point (funny for someone bitching about critical thought). It wasn't a Hunter vs Greenard comparison. It was why did we let Hunter walk for nothing in free agency when we easily could have traded him at any point and received value? Instead we held on to him (likely to appease the owners), got nothing, and he's been the ringleader on an excellent Houston defense.
And the Vikings have botched and mismanaged the quarterback position since the new regime set foot in Winter Park. If KOC is a part of that, then that's about as scary as it gets moving forward with no long term solution at the position in place
I dont think KOC drafted JJM. They tried to trade for Maye but were unsuccessful. The plan for Kwesi was get a QB. JJM became a Viking out of default. When Kwesi said we are trading for Turner KOC looked shocked. This tells me Kwesi makes the picks. He gambled and failed.
Still Hurtn wrote:
I dont think KOC drafted JJM. They tried to trade for Maye but were unsuccessful. The plan for Kwesi was get a QB. JJM became a Viking out of default. When Kwesi said we are trading for Turner KOC looked shocked. This tells me Kwesi makes the picks. He gambled and failed.
I'd have to think, based on everything about KOC, that he'd have to have significant input on the quarterback position as a whole and who he wants on the roster. Thats a rationale assumption. Since he's been here, the backup quarterback position has been completely mismanaged, including the Sam Howell debacle this offseason. We've drafted two quarterbacks and both were/have been awful. So if we have a head coach who can't identify quarterback talent, and we know our GM struggles in identifying any talent, that leaves us up shit creek without a paddle unless changes are made with those making the decisions this offseason.
Still Hurtn wrote:
I dont think KOC drafted JJM. They tried to trade for Maye but were unsuccessful. The plan for Kwesi was get a QB. JJM became a Viking out of default. When Kwesi said we are trading for Turner KOC looked shocked. This tells me Kwesi makes the picks. He gambled and failed.
KOC did look shocked when Kwesi told him they were going to draft Turner. KOC looked at him and said "Really". Turner was dropping for a reason and Kwesi must not have gotten the memo. So he filled out the card and strutted around the room like he just pulled one over on the rest of the league. Kwesi makes the picks but he gets a lot of input from his good buddy Mr. Grigson, yea the same guy that couldn't pick players when he was with the Colts. But hey we got him!
They were saddled with a competitive rebuild by the owners. They inherited Cousins and were up against the cap a bit. They also had a vision of building a team around a rookie QB with the freedom from cap constraints that would allow them to build a team around that rookie contract. They turned that vision into a plan when they wouldn't pay Cousins more than they thought he was worth. So along comes stop gap QB Darnold who provides a season resulting in a very attractive alternative.
Do they pay Darnold and limit what they can do in free agency or stick to the plan and start the injured red shirt rookie?
Darnold looked terrible the last two games although he was under seige with substandard offensive line play in both. Was that enough to let him go and forge ahead with the original plan? Was annointing JJ without competition their original plan without Jones having a fair shot. Jones knew what Richardson could do and chose to compete against him.
Losing Jones was simply Jones making a wise decision.
Looking back, it would appear the Vikings made the wrong decision.
The book hasn't been finished but this chapter appears they have painted themselves into a corner. It will take some clever maneuvering to turn this into a good ending.
Greylock wrote:
KOC did look shocked when Kwesi told him they were going to draft Turner. KOC looked at him and said "Really". Turner was dropping for a reason and Kwesi must not have gotten the memo. So he filled out the card and strutted around the room like he just pulled one over on the rest of the league. Kwesi makes the picks but he gets a lot of input from his good buddy Mr. Grigson, yea the same guy that couldn't pick players when he was with the Colts. But hey we got him!
Totally agree. Everyone knew Turner was horrible, including me, you and a dog named Boo—but especially KOC when he flashed that bemused expression at the forever-clueless Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and his Grinion. Every NFL team but the Vikings knew Turner was bad, and all that shit about him being the consensus #1 defensive player in the draft was just a joke played on us by the cool teams. But we swallowed it...hook, line, sinker, bobber, and arm up to the elbow.
In response to another thread I looked up the QB draft picks KOC was involved with as QB coach, OC or assistant coach, and it wasn't impressive. In Cleveland, Manzeil, SF Driskel and Wash. Haskins . None developed into franchise players or even long term starters. With the Rams he had Stafford. As OC in Washington 2018 he used 4 QBs, Smith, Johnson, McCoy and Sanchez, snake bit year, but no resurrections. Seems the success he has had with the position may have been being in the right place at the right time. I sure don't want to give up on KOC as coach but not sure how good he is at developing young players. Watching the games today I saw Brady Quinn and I just got a chill.
BigAl99 wrote:
In response to another thread I looked up the QB draft picks KOC was involved with as QB coach, OC or assistant coach, and it wasn't impressive. In Cleveland, Manzeil, SF Driskel and Wash. Haskins . None developed into franchise players or even long term starters. With the Rams he had Stafford. As OC in Washington 2018 he used 4 QBs, Smith, Johnson, McCoy and Sanchez, snake bit year, but no resurrections. Seems the success he has had with the position may have been being in the right place at the right time. I sure don't want to give up on KOC as coach but not sure how good he is at developing young players. Watching the games today I saw Brady Quinn and I just got a chill.
Yup so not sure where the "quarterback whisperer" moniker comes from that is so freely passed around in the media because he's NEVER developed a young quarterback as a coach. Any success he's ever had has come with a seasoned veteran quarterback under center, so let's see what he can do with Brosmer. If history is any indication, Sunday will be a very long day
supafreak84 wrote:
Yup so not sure where the "quarterback whisperer" moniker comes from that is so freely passed around in the media because he's NEVER developed a young quarterback as a coach. Any success he's ever had has come with a seasoned veteran quarterback under center, so let's see what he can do with Brosmer. If history is any indication, Sunday will be a very long day
History did thus indicate correctly. How did a 14-3 team turn into a dumpster fire?
Chuckf wrote:
History did thus indicate correctly. How did a 14-3 team turn into a dumpster fire?
I think its incredibly simple....
JJM wasn't nearly cooked enough yet.
The Vikings org is getting skewered in the media and by fans for their decision making/planning this off-season. They had an embarrassment of riches in that QB room last year.
We can only hope ownership makes the right calls going forward.
Where will the BUC STOP???
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
MaroonBells wrote:
Vikings made a handful of mistakes in the offseason that come to my mind. Thinking Sam Howell could be a capable QB2 and trading Mekhi Blackmon for a half-eaten box of Lemonheads. Those were head scratchers to me. But I think the decision to upgrade Bradbury with Kelly was a good one. I think the decision to upgrade Risner with Fries was a good one. I think upgrading Bullard and Tillery with Allen and Hargrave was a good one. I think drafting Donovan Jackson was a good one. Have they all been successful? Of course not. But they never are. Why are the Vikings 4-7? It has very little to do with the above. It's because JJ McCarthy isn't ready. Should the Vikings have waited to see what they had in JJ before investing so much in his surround? Maybe. But people on this board have been arguing the opposite for years.I saw someone bitching about Danielle Hunter earlier. That's rich. A year ago that decision looked brilliant. Genius even. Greenard was better AND cheaper. That decision doesn't look as good as it did just 6 months ago. But to those incapable of critical thought, the reality of the moment defines what is, what has been and what always will be. It's exhausting and idiotic.
It was an all in. If JJ played adequate football and started to figure it out by December, we would have been in a great position. QB on rookie contract, make some noise in the playoffs and next year have a chance at the super bowl.
greediron wrote:
It is an all in. If JJ plays adequate football and starts to figure it out by December, we are in a great position. QB on rookie contract, make some noise in the playoffs and next year have a chance at the super bowl.
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?! We can't even win a game
pattersaur wrote:
Playoffs? PLAYOFFS?! We can't even win a game
I was replying to the comment about choices in the offseason. So this was the thought going into the season. Definitely not now.
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