Vikings J.J. McCarthy mistake gets unexpected time in the Sam Darnold spotlight

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The are going to get to spend the next couple of weeks with very public regret.  Sam Darnold led the Vikes to a 14-3 record in 2024, but they didn't bring him back. They gave the starting quarterback job to J.J. McCarthy, who had yet to play an NFL snap.  Darnold signed with the , and he has them in the Super Bowl.  McCarthy was one of multiple bad QBs for the Vikings this season, and they mi sed the playoffs entirely and can't be sure whether McCarthy is even the long-term answer at the most important position in sports.  MORE:  On Sunday night, after Darnold's win, Vikings pa s rusher Jonathan Greenard put out a tweet that just included three dots, "..."  It said it all.  In a new article by , he broke it down  Mike Conley Jr. Jersey further like this:  "This will not be the finalVikings referenceas the Super Bowl approaches, not after Minnesota misevaluated its quarterback situation byletting Darnold leaveso they could commit to J.J. McCarthy, who was not nearly as ready as they had suggested. How long before the Wilfs summon the team's football decision-makers to their New Jersey offices for a little self-scouting?"  MORE:  The Vikings had one of football's most expensive and most talented rosters in 2025, but without even average quarterback play, they never stood a chance.  Darnold had wavered in Week 18 and his lone playoff appearance with the Vikings last season, which likely made it easier to let him go.  But in the big games this year, Darnold has been great, and now Seattle is one win from the Lombardi Trophy while the Vikings have to be sick to their stomachs.  More NFL news:  Bojan Bogdanovic Jersey