J.J. McCarthy’s Stunning NFL Debut: Historic Comeback Not Seen in 75 Years
J.J. McCarthy’s first NFL start didn’t go smoothly. Not at all. It started with frustration and fumbling confidence.
But by the final whoosh, it had converted into an extraordinary commodity, a commodity that hasn’t been witnessed in three diggings of a century.
The novice quarterback, playing for the Minnesota Vikings, faced a grim Chicago Bears defence on Monday Night Football. Beforehand, the going was tough. Moving the ball was a struggle.
The pressure mounted, and things hit their lowest point in the third quarter when McCarthy threw a disastrous pick-six. The scoreboard read 17-6. It looked like the night was slipping away.
But that wasn’t the end. As the fourth quarter drew to a close, everything changed. McCarthy, calm under pressure, led the Vikings on a remarkable reversal, adding 21 unanswered points to catch a 27- 24 palm from the jaws of defeat.
“This is something special,” NFL researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming noted. “McCarthy became the first starting quarterback to record a comeback of 10 points or greater in his first NFL start since Steve Young did so in 1985.
Further, he is the first since 1950 to do so on the road.”
J.J. McCarthy is the first starting QB with a 10+ point 4th quarter comeback in his NFL debut since Steve Young in 1985
He is the only such QB since 1950 to do so on the road@jjmccarthy09 | #SKOL pic.twitter.com/6fAQfjocLl
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 9, 2025
Astonishing. Simply astonishing. Think about it. Seventy-five years. Numerous Hall of Fame quarterbacks have taken their first steps in the NFL. Many have faced adversity.
Few, if any, have managed such a comeback, especially not on the road and not in their very first outing as a starter.
McCarthy’s stats might not jump off the page: 143 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
Add to that 25 rushing yards and another touchdown on the ground. These figures tell part of the story, but not all of it. The palm. That’s the stat that stands altitudinous.
It wasn’t about piling up eye-popping numbers. It was about adaptability, leadership, and keeping countenance when everything seemed to fall piecemeal.
For suckers following the NFL from the UK, McCarthy’s performance serves as a reminder that greatness frequently begins with moments of mistrust, and it’s how a player responds that defines their career.
One thing is certain: J.J. McCarthy is a name to flash back. His debut wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. And one that history will not soon forget.
For more dramatic NFL moments this season, check out how the Eagles pulled off a late win against the Cowboys after storm delays disrupted their opener.
