J.J. McCarthy is getting a new beginning in the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to trade the former first-round quarterback to the New York Giants for a 2027 fifth-round draft pick, with the deal pending McCarthy passing a physical. The move was reported Monday, September 28, 2026, after the Giants lost starting quarterback Jaxson Dart for the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The trade comes only two years after Minnesota selected McCarthy No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. His path with the Vikings changed quickly this offseason when the team brought in Kyler Murray and eventually placed McCarthy behind Murray and veteran Carson Wentz on the depth chart.
Giants Move Quickly After Dart Injury
J.J. McCarthy: New York’s decision comes after a major setback at quarterback. Dart suffered a knee injury against the Los Angeles Rams and was ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season. Veteran Jameis Winston had taken over after Dart’s injury, but the Giants moved quickly to add another quarterback option.
McCarthy now joins a Giants team that needs depth at the most important position. The move also brings him back into the orbit of coach John Harbaugh, whose brother Jim coached McCarthy at Michigan. McCarthy led Michigan to the national championship before entering the NFL.
A Dramatic Change From Minnesota
McCarthy’s Minnesota story took several turns during the 2026 offseason. The Vikings had initially planned to keep developing him, and general manager Nolan Teasley said in early September that McCarthy remained part of the team’s plans. He had also returned to full practice after an ankle injury suffered during the preseason.
But by Week 1, the situation had changed. Kyler Murray was named the starter, while Carson Wentz became the backup and McCarthy was listed as the No. 3 quarterback. McCarthy later moved into the backup role when Murray was unavailable, but he did not appear in the Vikings’ first two regular-season games.
McCarthy’s NFL Experience So Far
McCarthy’s professional career has been interrupted by injuries and limited opportunities. He missed his entire rookie season after suffering a knee injury in the preseason shortly after Minnesota drafted him.
He eventually started 10 games for the Vikings in 2025. During that season, he completed 140 of 243 passes for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns.
| J.J. McCarthy detail | Information |
|---|---|
| NFL draft | No. 10 overall, 2024 |
| College | Michigan |
| 2025 starts | 10 |
| 2025 passing | 1,632 yards, 11 TDs, 12 INTs |
A New Chapter With the Giants
The Giants trade gives McCarthy an opportunity to continue his NFL career in a very different setting. He will join a team dealing with a major quarterback injury and will have to learn a new offensive system quickly.
For New York, the move adds a 23-year-old former first-round selection to its quarterback room. For McCarthy, it means leaving a Vikings organization that had once viewed him as part of its long-term plans.
The circumstances are difficult to predict, but the immediate fact is clear: McCarthy’s next NFL chapter will begin in New York rather than Minnesota.
