Dan Orlovsky Criticizes Vikings' JJ McCarthy For Kyler Murray Comments

The Minnesota Vikings may be the NFL‘s primary content hub this summer, whether they like it or not.

J.J. McCarthy, whom the Vikings drafted 10th overall in 2024, fielded a less-than-inspiring first full year as QB1 in 2025. The Michigan alum missed time with a high ankle sprain, a concussion, and a hairline hand fracture. When he played, he never looked in command of Kevin O’Connell’s offense and ranked near the bottom of the league across the board statistically.

As a result, the Vikings wanted to bring in a veteran quarterback to expedite McCarthy’s development or provide an off-ramp out of the McCarthy business, depending on who you ask. The Arizona Cardinals released quarterback Kyler Murray, their 2019 No. 1 overall pick, at the start of the new league year in March, and the Vikings quickly signed Murray to a one-year contract.

We got our first look at McCarthy and Murray sharing the field during the Vikings’ OTAs last week, and McCarthy raised every eyebrow in Minnesota with how he characterized his dynamic with Murray on Wednesday.

“It’s just like two guys in a classroom,” McCarthy said. “He sits on one side. I sit on the side. And it’s the coaches’ responsibility to teach us and coach us.”

When asked if there’s any “awkwardness” between them, McCarthy said, “Um, awkwardness? It's just like the same feeling when you're in high school, and there's another person on the other side of the room. That’s just kind of how it is, so I wouldn’t say there’s any awkwardness.”

Meanwhile, Murray said, “It’s been great. Obviously, I know he’s a younger guy, so any way I can help him. Obviously, I feel like I’ve played seven years now, going on eight, so I’m considered a veteran, even though I don’t see myself as that. Give him any knowledge that he needs. Again, we’re both competitors, and I know we both want what’s best for the team.”

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky did not like what he heard from McCarthy.

“It was an uphill battle for J.J. McCarthy on the field in this competition,” Orlovsky said on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Thursday. “Hearing his answers, it sounds like there’s an uphill battle off the field as well. If you haven’t divided the locker room or lost the locker room, I don’t think that answer is helping you.”

Orlovsky paused to “give kudos” to Murray for his “mature” answers and his purported leadership style in Minnesota before turning his attention back to McCarthy.

“I’m rooting for J.J.,” Orlovsky said. “At times, it just feels like, at least publicly, it’s an act. Like, ‘I have to have this bravado-type of response,’ or something like that. You’re on the same team at the end of the day. You’re on the same team. We all know you’re competing. We all know you’re in the same room.

“At the end of the day, whoever plays better is more than likely gonna win that job, so for you to have that type of response […] it feels like you’re trying to divide the locker room. Like, are you Team J.J., or are you Team Kyler? He comes across that way at times.”

Vikings brass and fans will be Team Whoever Can Maximize Justin Jefferson and Win. So far, that has not been J.J. McCarthy.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 6:26 PM.