The Vikings made a bold decision when they let Sam Darnold walk.
Now that Darnold has a Super Bowl ring in Seattle, some people in Minnesota may be asking one uncomfortable question: Did they make the wrong call?

Vikings’ Gamble on J.J. McCarthy Raises Questions After Sam Darnold’s Super Bowl Triumph

The Minnesota Vikings made one of the boldest quarterback decisions in recent years when they chose to move forward with J.J. McCarthy instead of retaining Sam Darnold.

At the time, the move made strategic sense. Darnold had just led Minnesota to a 14–3 season in 2024, but the Vikings believed their future rested with McCarthy, the talented first-round draft pick they had selected to lead the franchise.

Now, with Darnold winning a Super Bowl in his first season with the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings’ decision is facing renewed scrutiny.

Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph believes the organization can’t help but wonder what might have been.

The Decision That Changed Minnesota’s Direction

After the 2024 season, Minnesota faced a classic NFL dilemma.

Keep the veteran quarterback who just helped produce one of the best records in the league, or move forward with the younger, cheaper option still on a rookie contract.

The Vikings chose the latter.

They allowed Darnold to leave in free agency, opening the door for McCarthy to take over as the franchise quarterback.

The move fit a common NFL strategy: building a strong roster around a quarterback still playing on an affordable rookie deal.

But the transition didn’t go smoothly.

A Rocky Start for McCarthy

McCarthy entered the 2025 season under difficult circumstances.

The former Michigan star had missed his entire rookie season after tearing his meniscus, meaning his first real action came a year later.

Early in the season, Minnesota struggled. Injuries and inconsistency led to a revolving door at quarterback, and the Vikings’ offense never found its rhythm.

The team ultimately finished 9–8, far below the 14–3 mark from the year before.

Despite the uneven year, McCarthy showed flashes of improvement late in the season.

During Minnesota’s five-game winning streak to close the year, he played in four games and posted:

5 touchdowns
2 interceptions
Two games with passer ratings above 108

Still, his overall season statistics were far from dominant. McCarthy finished with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, while Minnesota’s offense ranked 26th in the NFL.

That was a significant drop from the previous year, when the same roster finished ninth in total offense with Darnold leading the unit.

Kyle Rudolph Identifies McCarthy’s Biggest Weakness

According to Rudolph, the biggest issue for McCarthy wasn’t decision-making or reading defenses.

Instead, it was something more basic.

Accuracy.

“When you go through your progression and make the right decision, you still have to deliver an accurate throw,” Rudolph explained.

He emphasized that McCarthy appeared comfortable reading defenses and processing information, which is often the most difficult challenge for young quarterbacks.

But the final step — consistently delivering precise passes — was where the young quarterback struggled most.

Interestingly, Rudolph noted that accuracy problems are somewhat unusual for young quarterbacks, who more often struggle with mental processing rather than mechanics.

What Might Have Been With Darnold

Darnold’s success in Seattle has only intensified the debate.

After leaving Minnesota, the veteran quarterback helped lead the Seahawks to a Super Bowl championship in his first season.

That achievement naturally raises questions about how the Vikings might have performed had they kept him.

Rudolph believes it’s impossible for Minnesota not to wonder about that scenario.

“It’s hard not to think about what he would have been like with the roster they had in Minnesota,” Rudolph said.

Still, he acknowledges the financial realities that influenced the decision.

Veteran quarterbacks command large contracts, while rookie quarterbacks allow teams to allocate money to other positions.

The Vikings Still Believe in McCarthy

Despite the criticism, Rudolph believes McCarthy’s struggles can be fixed.

He pointed to head coach Kevin O’Connell, widely respected for his work with quarterbacks, as the key to helping the young signal-caller improve.

“They have the right staff in place and the right guy leading the organization,” Rudolph said.

With more experience and continued development, McCarthy could still become the franchise quarterback Minnesota envisioned.

But with Sam Darnold celebrating a championship elsewhere, the Vikings’ gamble remains one of the NFL’s most intriguing storylines.

And for now, Minnesota fans will continue asking the same question:

Did the Vikings move on from the wrong quarterback?