J.J. McCarthy, the former national championship-winning quarterback from the University of Michigan, currently serves as a signal-caller for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). His statistical profile is defined by a historic winning percentage in the collegiate ranks and an evolving professional portfolio. Through the 2025 NFL season, McCarthy has recorded 1,632 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in 10 games played. During his collegiate tenure at Michigan (2021–2023), he achieved a 27–1 record as a starter, the highest winning percentage in NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history.

Professional Career Statistics with the Minnesota Vikings

After being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy’s professional journey began with a focus on recovery and adaptation. Following a 2024 season spent on injured reserve, his 2025 performance represents his first extended action at the professional level.

2025 NFL Regular Season Passing Stats

In the 2025 season, McCarthy appeared in 10 games, taking the reins of the Vikings' offense. The following table details his passing production:

Category Value
Games Played 10
Pass Attempts 243
Pass Completions 140
Completion Percentage 57.6%
Passing Yards 1,632
Passing Touchdowns 11
Interceptions 12
Average Yards Per Attempt 6.7
Longest Completion 62 yards
Passer Rating 72.6

The statistics indicate a developmental phase common for young quarterbacks. While the 11 touchdowns show scoring capability, the 12 interceptions reflect the challenges of adjusting to NFL defensive schemes and windows. His 57.6% completion rate remains a focal point for improvement compared to his highly efficient collegiate numbers.

2025 NFL Rushing and Ball Security

McCarthy’s mobility, which was a hallmark of his game at Michigan, translated to the NFL in limited but effective bursts.

Rushing Category Value
Rushing Attempts 37
Rushing Yards 181
Yards Per Carry 4.9
Rushing Touchdowns 4
Longest Rush 26 yards
Fumbles 6
Fumbles Lost 2

His ability to find the end zone on the ground (4 rushing touchdowns) adds a red-zone dimension to the Vikings' playbook. However, ball security was a noted factor, with 6 total fumbles recorded over the 10-game span.

Analysis of the 2024 Rookie Season Injury Impact

The statistical narrative of J.J. McCarthy is unique due to the absence of 2024 data. During the Vikings' first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, McCarthy sustained a season-ending knee injury. This led to him spending the entirety of his true rookie year on injured reserve (IR). Consequently, his professional statistical clock essentially began in 2025, though he was categorized as having two years of NFL experience by the start of that campaign. This gap year allowed for mental development but delayed the physical accumulation of NFL passing metrics.

Collegiate Career at the University of Michigan (2021–2023)

McCarthy’s college statistics are among the most efficient in the history of the Michigan Wolverines program. He led the team to three consecutive Big Ten titles and a CFP National Championship in 2023.

Comprehensive College Statistics Summary

Season Games Comp / Att Comp % Yards TDs INTs Rush Yds Rush TDs
2021 11 34 / 59 57.6% 516 5 2 124 2
2022 14 208 / 322 64.6% 2,719 22 5 306 5
2023 15 240 / 332 72.3% 2,991 22 4 202 3
Total 40 482 / 713 67.6% 6,226 49 11 632 10

2023 Season: The National Championship Run

The 2023 season was the pinnacle of McCarthy's collegiate career. He started all 15 games, leading Michigan to a perfect 15–0 record.

  • Passing Efficiency: He set a program record with a 72.3% completion percentage.
  • Yardage: He threw for 2,991 yards, finishing just 9 yards shy of the 3,000-yard mark for the season.
  • Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio: He threw 22 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions, showcasing elite decision-making and ball security.
  • Key Game Performance: In the Rose Bowl (CFP Semifinal) against Alabama, McCarthy completed 17 of 27 passes for 221 yards and 3 touchdowns, earning Offensive MVP honors.

2022 Season: Establishing the Starter Role

In 2022, McCarthy took over the starting role in Week 2. He appeared in 14 games and proved his ability to handle a high-volume passing attack.

  • Total Production: 2,719 passing yards and 22 touchdowns.
  • Rushing Contribution: His highest rushing output occurred this season, with 306 yards and 5 touchdowns on the ground.
  • Deep Ball Metric: He recorded a career-long 75-yard touchdown pass against Ohio State, a pivotal moment in the rivalry game.
  • Passer Rating: His efficiency helped him rank 8th in single-season program history for passing yards at the time.

2021 Season: True Freshman Rotational Role

As a true freshman, McCarthy served as a backup to Cade McNamara but was used frequently in specific packages to utilize his athleticism.

  • Debut: Against Western Michigan, he completed 4 of 6 passes for 80 yards and his first touchdown (a 69-yarder).
  • High-Stakes Experience: He played significant snaps in the Orange Bowl (CFP Semifinal) against Georgia, throwing for 131 yards and a touchdown after entering the game in the second half.

Historical Records and Program Milestones

McCarthy’s statistical legacy at Michigan is cemented by several all-time program records. These metrics highlight his efficiency relative to the volume of plays.

  • Career Winning Percentage: 27–1 as a starter (.964), the best by any college quarterback since at least 1971.
  • Completion Percentage (Career): 67.6% (Program Leader).
  • Completion Percentage (Single Season): 72.3% in 2023 (Program Leader).
  • Interception Rate: 1.54% (Program Leader).
  • Passer Efficiency Rating: 160.5 (Program Leader).
  • Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio: 4.5:1 (Program Leader, minimum 20 TD passes).

Single Game Career Highs in College

For those analyzing McCarthy's ceiling, his single-game career highs at Michigan provide insight into his maximum output capabilities:

  • Passing Attempts: 37 (vs. Purdue, 2023)
  • Pass Completions: 28 (at Indiana, 2022)
  • Passing Yards: 343 (vs. TCU, 2022)
  • Passing Touchdowns: 4 (at Michigan State, 2023)
  • Longest Pass: 75 yards (at Ohio State, 2022)
  • Rushing Yards: 57 (vs. Penn State, 2022)
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 2 (at Minnesota, 2023)
  • Longest Rush: 39 yards (vs. TCU, 2021)

High School Performance at Nazareth and IMG Academy

The foundations of McCarthy's statistical dominance began in high school, where he maintained a combined 36–2 record as a starter.

Nazareth Academy (Illinois)

During his sophomore and junior years, McCarthy led Nazareth to a 26–2 record.

  • Sophomore (2018): Completed 182 of 240 passes (76%) for 3,448 yards and 39 touchdowns, leading the team to a state title.
  • Junior (2019): Threw for 2,820 yards and 34 touchdowns.

IMG Academy (Florida)

Due to the cancellation of the Illinois season in 2020, McCarthy transferred to IMG Academy.

  • Senior (2020): Led IMG to an 8–0 record and a consensus national championship. He threw for 1,392 yards and 16 touchdowns with zero interceptions across 165 attempts.

Summary of J.J. McCarthy Stats

J.J. McCarthy’s career is characterized by extreme efficiency at the collegiate level and a transition to the NFL that involves navigating professional complexity. At Michigan, he became the program's most decorated quarterback in terms of winning percentage (.964) and completion efficiency (67.6% career). His 2025 NFL season with the Minnesota Vikings shows a quarterback capable of producing double-digit touchdowns (11) and contributing on the ground (4 rushing TDs), while working to stabilize his interception rate (12 INTs) and completion percentage (57.6%).

FAQ

What are J.J. McCarthy's current NFL stats? As of the 2025 season, J.J. McCarthy has played 10 games, completing 140 of 243 passes (57.6%) for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also has 181 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns.

What was J.J. McCarthy's record as a starter at Michigan? McCarthy finished his college career with a 27–1 record as a starter, which is the highest winning percentage for a quarterback in modern NCAA FBS history.

Why did J.J. McCarthy miss the 2024 NFL season? McCarthy missed his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a knee injury sustained during the Minnesota Vikings' first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year.

What are the Michigan program records held by J.J. McCarthy? He holds records for career completion percentage (67.6%), single-season completion percentage (72.3%), career pass efficiency (160.5), and career interception rate (1.54%).

How many touchdowns did J.J. McCarthy throw in college? He threw a total of 49 passing touchdowns and scored 10 rushing touchdowns during his three seasons at the University of Michigan.