J.J. McCarthy hasn’t even played a regular season snap yet, but the buzz around his backup is already heating up — and it’s not just any backup that’s being floated.
Eric Mangini, former New York Jets head coach and now NFL analyst, just dropped a headline-worthy take. On FS1’s First Things First, Mangini suggested that the Minnesota Vikings could — and maybe should — bring back Kirk Cousins, despite the QB walking away with a massive $180 million deal in Atlanta.
“I would imagine they’re going to go and get a backup that they feel could win a bunch of games, should something happen to J.J. McCarthy,” Mangini said.
Why Kirk Cousins Might Say Yes
Cousins left Minnesota after six seasons, landing a four-year, $180 million payday with the Falcons. But his late-season benching in 2024 has cast serious doubts on his starting future in Atlanta. That, plus the Falcons’ pivot to Michael Penix Jr., makes Cousins’ future anything but locked.
“Kirk’s a little bit interesting… He left because the money wasn’t right. But everything that I’ve read is that the relationship with the organization … the city … the coach(es) was great,” Mangini added. “He might be of the mindset of, ‘This could be my best chance to be successful.’”
In other words, a return to Minneapolis might not be off the table — especially if Cousins is open to playing mentor and emergency starter for McCarthy, whose rookie season was already derailed by a meniscus tear.
A High-Stakes Gamble — Or a PR Nightmare?
Not everyone is sold on this potential reunion. Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports slammed the idea, arguing that bringing Cousins back would create a media circus, not veteran security.
“The second McCarthy ended up having a stretch of struggles with an interception or two, (it) would bring discussion of sitting him for Cousins, which would lead to a PR nightmare,” Forness wrote. “That is not conducive to instilling confidence in McCarthy.”
Forness acknowledges that Cousins, at this point in his career, has the skillset to be a strong backup — but the emotional baggage he left behind in Minnesota might be too much to carry.
“It might seem like a good idea, but this is real life, not Madden,” he added.
What’s Next for the Vikings and McCarthy
As one of just 25 NFL teams with a returning head coach, the Vikings are hoping for a smoother ride in 2025 — and that starts with giving McCarthy the reins. Spring camp kicks off next week, and all eyes will be on how the rookie bounces back from his preseason injury.
Still, if the front office listens to voices like Mangini, we could be looking at a quarterback room that includes both the future (McCarthy) and the past (Cousins). The only question is: would that be stability — or chaos?
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