**Vikings Transition to J.J. McCarthy Era After Sam Darnold’s Cinderella Season**
The Minnesota Vikings enjoyed a remarkable 2023 season thanks to journeyman quarterback **Sam Darnold**, who stepped up after rookie **J.J. McCarthy** suffered a preseason knee injury. Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but the fairy tale ended with two disappointing performances: a Week 18 loss to the Detroit Lions and a Wild Card defeat against the Los Angeles Rams.
Now, the Vikings are turning the page to the **J.J. McCarthy** era. The 2024 first-round pick, who missed his entire rookie season due to injury, will take over as the starting quarterback in 2025. McCarthy faces the challenge of finding his form quickly after a year of rehab, but his former coach, **Jim Harbaugh**, provided some optimism for Vikings fans during an appearance on *PFT Live* at the NFL Scouting Combine.
*“J.J. has attacked his rehab this entire last six, seven months, and I can guarantee Vikings fans that he is up and at it already today, attacking the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind,”* Harbaugh said. *“I love him. I’m not gonna love playing against him—we play the Vikings this year.”*
McCarthy and Harbaugh share a deep connection from their time together at Michigan, where McCarthy started for two seasons and helped lead the Wolverines to a national championship in 2023. As McCarthy prepares to take the reins in Minnesota, Vikings fans are hopeful that his work ethic and leadership will translate to success in the NFL.
The Vikings’ future now rests on McCarthy’s ability to bounce back from injury and live up to the high expectations set by his college career and Harbaugh’s glowing endorsement.
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