J.J. McCarthy Gets Blunt Review From Vikings Star Amid Offseason originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The J.J. McCarthy era is beginning for the Minnesota Vikings. After Sam Darnold had a strong Pro Bowl season for them last year, he moved on to join the Seattle Seahawks in free agency, opening the door for McCarthy to take the keys to the engine.

“He’s a tremendous talent, tremendous leader, but his leadership really shows up when he’s here,” said McCarthy, who accompanied Jefferson to a Timberwolves playoff game last month when they sat together in courtside seats. “Just being able to get that chemistry building on and off the field has been invaluable.”

J.J. McCarthy has passed the first of what figures to be several tests during the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason program.