The Minnesota Vikings are generating serious buzz for the 2025 NFL season, and FS1 host Jason McIntyre is leading the charge. Filling in for Colin Cowherd on The Herd this past Tuesday, McIntyre boldly declared his unwavering belief in rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings, predicting they’ll reach the NFC Championship this year.
“I am coming out right now and telling all of America I’m all in on J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings,” McIntyre proclaimed on FS1. “They will play in the NFC Championship this year. … I am all in on this team.”
Why the Hype for McCarthy and the Vikings?
McIntyre’s confidence in McCarthy, the former No. 10 overall pick, comes despite the quarterback missing his entire rookie season in 2024 due to a torn meniscus. So, what’s fueling this bold prediction? McIntyre pointed to several key factors.
.@jasonrmcintyre is ALL IN on J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings 🤯 pic.twitter.com/oXq9Ihx2JM
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 3, 2025
“There’s a couple things at play: Without any prompting, Aaron Jones has not stopped talking about J.J. McCarthy. The leadership — the dude’s got it,” McIntyre explained. He highlighted McCarthy’s natural leadership, a quality that some players simply possess. Further bolstering his case, McIntyre noted, “Jim Harbaugh, who knows a little bit about football, loves J.J. McCarthy.”
A Team of Destiny
Coming off a stellar 14-3 season in 2024, the Vikings made a strong showing in the NFC playoffs, though they fell to the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round. Building on that momentum, McIntyre sees something special brewing in Minnesota. “The team of destiny this year is the Minnesota Vikings,” he declared with conviction.
The Road Ahead
With the first preseason game just over two months away, time will tell if the Vikings can live up to McIntyre’s lofty expectations. McCarthy’s leadership, combined with endorsements from teammates like Aaron Jones and respected coaches like Jim Harbaugh, has set the stage for a potentially unstoppable season. Forget the doubters—McIntyre believes J.J. McCarthy is the real reason the Vikings could dominate in 2025.