The 2024 Rose Bowl MVP JJ McCarthy could not have a dream start to his NFL career. McCarthy came off a stellar run with Michigan in the NFL Draft. The 22-year-old found a home with the Vikings and was ready to hit the gridiron as an NFL player. The QB thought that everything was falling into place in his career. But football has a way of humbling even the greatest players. JJ had to miss out on his rookie season following a season-ending injury. Lately, he has also opened up about another struggle.

On Tuesday, JJ McCarthy stopped by The Rich Eisen Show and got real about something he’s been dealing with for a while—ADHD. The 22-year-old opened up about the struggles that come with it, something millions of Americans can relate to. In fact, a report says around 15.5 million U.S. adults (about 6%) are living with an ADHD diagnosis. “The most important thing for me is with my ADHD I’m very unorganized throughout my day. And I have to just like really maintain a strict schedule. And have these nightly debriefs.”

McCarthy was set to play as the backup QB to Sam Darnold for the season, but then a torn meniscus threw a wrench in his rookie season. The QB missed the entire season following surgery to repair it. Speaking of his ADHD struggle and how he manages to focus on his NFL career, the QB shared how he tries to see it as his ‘superpower.’ “I feel like ADHD has gotten a bad rap. I feel like, you know, there are a lot of different things coming out in the medical world that I have no right to speak on. But a lot of people could do the research for themselves and realize that it is somewhat of a superpower.” Well, hopefully, McCarthy will hit the gridiron in the 2025 season.

But that brings up the big question: will he start as QB1? If that’s the case, we’re right back to talking about Sam Darnold.

Sam Darnold or JJ McCarthy: Who will be the Vikings QB1?

Some serious troubles are brewing for Vikings QB Sam Darnold. The 27-year-old had a breakthrough season, throwing for 4,300 yards and 35 touchdowns. But it all fell short with that one loss in the wild-card round. Sam was on a one-year deal with the Vikings and will be a free agent in March.

He has two options: sign a massive contract with another team or negotiate an extension with Minnesota. But there’s a problem with the latter. According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the Vikings might not be willing to offer a hefty contract, especially if his value reaches around $40 million per year.

Minnesota might not want to trade him either, especially after a spectacular season. So, they could use the franchise tag to keep him around for another year without committing long-term. Then, after a season, they might look to trade him and hand the starting job to J.J. McCarthy.

That might work out for the Vikings, but not so much for Sam Darnold. He’s coming off a solid season. And a couple of teams—the Jets and Raiders, for starters -are on the lookout for a veteran QB. Darnold could be a real option for them. But will the Vikings let him walk? That’s the big question. Letting him go for nothing wouldn’t be a smart move. If anything, Minnesota will find a way to get something out of this -whether it’s a new deal, the franchise tag, or a trade.