For a moment, it seemed like the initial ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup of the year would be celebrated as a successful opening for the Bears’ new head coach, Ben Johnson. However, following an unforeseen sequence of events in the fourth quarter, the game will likely be remembered for J.J. McCarthy’s impressive NFL introduction, which included a comeback victory of 27-24 for the Vikings.
Trailing by a score of 17-6 after three quarters, McCarthy showcased his skills during the final 15 minutes, becoming the first quarterback to achieve three fourth-quarter touchdowns in his NFL debut. He completed touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones before scoring himself on a 14-yard rush.
McCarthy also became the first Vikings quarterback to achieve multiple touchdowns in his NFL debut since Vikings Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton accomplished the feat in 1961. Interestingly, Tarkenton’s performance also resulted in a Week 1 victory against the Bears. Tarkenton’s stellar debut proved indicative of his future success, as he played 18 NFL seasons and retired as the league’s all-time passing leader. Tarkenton’s career highlights also include three NFC championships and a league MVP award in 1975.
Besides joining Tarkenton in the record books, McCarthy also emerged as the first quarterback to overcome a fourth-quarter deficit of at least 10 points since Hall of Famer Steve Young accomplished it nearly 40 years ago. Sadly for Young, the Buccaneers’ comeback win against the Lions that day marked his only victory as Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback that year. He later enjoyed a distinguished career with the 49ers, winning two league MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP.
While his performance made history, McCarthy, who spent his childhood as a Bears supporter outside of Chicago, will remember Monday night for a very different reason.
“Securing the victory, that’s what I’ll treasure most,” he shared with ESPN’s Lisa Salters following the game. “Just being here in my hometown, it’s a dream realized. To all the young individuals watching, it’s attainable. I deeply appreciate my teammates and eagerly anticipate the challenges of next week.”
