The Minnesota Vikings’ 2025-26 season unraveled into a profound disappointment after high expectations following Sam Darnold’s breakout 2024-25 campaign. The team controversially chose not to re-sign Darnold, allowing him to join the Seattle Seahawks, where he led them to a Super Bowl victory. Instead, they handed the keys to rookie (technically) J.J. McCarthy, who had missed his entire 2024-25 season due to injury and entered as an unproven starter. <\/p>
McCarthy struggled mightily in his first full season under center, displaying inconsistent accuracy, poor decision-making, and inability to elevate the offense, but it was expected since he was just a rookie. His shortcomings directly contributed to a sharp decline in Justin Jefferson’s production, as the star receiver saw fewer targets and yards amid the quarterback’s struggles. The Vikings finished third in NFC North, only in front of the Lions, with a 9-8 record and missed the postseason entirely, marking a frustrating regression from prior promise.<\/p>