J.J. McCarthy’s Debut Delivers Historic Fourth-Quarter Comeback

The NFL has seen plenty of thrilling rookie debuts, but what unfolded at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday may go down as one of the most remarkable in league history. In his first professional start, Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy engineered a furious fourth-quarter rally, erasing a 17–6 deficit and powering the Vikings to a stunning 27–24 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The rookie’s poise, production, and penchant for late-game heroics not only electrified the home crowd but also etched his name into the NFL record books.

By the time the final whistle blew, McCarthy had accomplished feats unseen for decades. According to league statisticians, he became:

The first quarterback since 1985 to lead a debut comeback from 11 or more points down in the fourth quarter.

The first rookie since Cam Newton in 2011 to record two passing touchdowns and one rushing score in his debut.

The only quarterback in NFL history to account for three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his first career start.

Those milestones weren’t just numbers. They reflected a performance steeped in resilience, timing, and confidence in the face of early struggles.

For three quarters, the Vikings’ offense sputtered, with McCarthy adjusting to the speed and complexity of NFL defenses. Chicago’s pass rush rattled him, forcing hurried throws and limiting Minnesota to a pair of field goals.

The Bears, meanwhile, looked poised to spoil McCarthy’s much-anticipated debut. Quarterback Caleb Williams, himself under the microscope as a fellow rookie starter, kept drives alive with his mobility, while running back Khalil Herbert gashed the Vikings’ front seven. Entering the fourth quarter, Chicago held a 17–6 advantage, and much of the Minneapolis crowd braced for disappointment.

But McCarthy had other plans.

The turning point came early in the final frame. On a critical 3rd-and-7, McCarthy threaded a 22-yard strike to veteran wideout Justin Jefferson, igniting a drive capped by a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie receiver Rome Odunze. The deficit shrank to 17–13, and the stadium’s energy shifted.

Moments later, McCarthy showcased his athleticism. On a designed read-option, he bolted past Chicago linebackers for a 12-yard rushing touchdown, giving Minnesota its first lead of the night at 20–17.

Chicago briefly regained momentum when Williams marched the Bears downfield for a touchdown drive of his own, reclaiming a 24–20 edge. Yet with two minutes remaining, McCarthy once again seized the spotlight.

In a drive that epitomized composure, he went 6-for-7 through the air, capped by a nine-yard touchdown toss to tight end T.J. Hockenson. The Vikings reclaimed the lead, 27–24, and their defense held strong in the final minute to seal the victory.

After the game, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell lauded his rookie quarterback’s resilience.

“You learn a lot about a player in the fourth quarter,” O’Connell said. “J.J. never flinched. He put the team on his back, trusted his guys, and delivered.”

Jefferson, who caught six passes for 89 yards, echoed the sentiment.

“The kid’s got ice in his veins. We’ve seen it in practice, but to do it under the lights, in your very first start—that’s special.”

For McCarthy, the performance was about preparation meeting opportunity.

“I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life,” he told reporters. “I didn’t play a perfect game, but I kept telling myself: stay calm, trust the process, and keep swinging. My teammates believed in me, and that made all the difference.”

His stat line—21-of-34 passing for 247 yards, two touchdowns through the air, plus 41 rushing yards and a score—was impressive enough. But it was his timing and leadership in the clutch that elevated the debut to historic territory.

The Vikings’ win does more than put them at 1–0 in the NFC North standings. It signals the arrival of a potential franchise cornerstone in McCarthy, a player drafted to stabilize Minnesota’s quarterback position for years to come.

For the Bears, the loss is a bitter pill. Despite flashes from Williams and a strong defensive showing for much of the night, Chicago faltered late, raising questions about their ability to close games.

As for McCarthy, the spotlight will only grow brighter. The rookie sensation will now prepare for a Week 2 showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, a team boasting one of the NFL’s fiercest defensive fronts.

Debuts are supposed to be shaky, full of nerves and missteps. For J.J. McCarthy, it was shaky—until it mattered most. Then, it was spectacular.

In rallying the Vikings to a comeback victory, he didn’t just announce his arrival; he set a new standard for what a rookie quarterback can achieve on day one.

If this is only the beginning, Minnesota fans might be witnessing the dawn of a special era.