Inside The Vikings

Watch: J.J. McCarthy Tells Kevin O'Connell 'I'd Run Through a Brick Wall For You'

McCarthy wanted to leave an impression on the Vikings' head coach at the combine.
Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan quarterback J J McCarthy (QB05) talks to the media
Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan quarterback J J McCarthy (QB05) talks to the media | Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

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J.J. McCarthy wanted to leave a lasting impression on Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell after their meeting at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. So he did.

"I just want to say I'd run through a brick wall for you," McCarthy said to O'Connell. "(For) anyone in the purple and gold, (I) promise you that." O'Connell's response? "Let's go, man!"

"I've only said that to two coaches in my entire life, people that I have the utmost respect for and honor for," McCarthy said of that line to O'Connell. "He definitely fits that mold. I've won championships with both of those guys previously, so hopefully we can add onto the third one."

That moment in Indianapolis is just one cool insight from an 18-minute video released by the Vikings on Monday that takes viewers inside the team's draft this year. It chronicles the Vikings meeting with McCarthy and trading up one spot to pick him. There's footage from their combine meeting with Dallas Turner, and of the process to move up from 23 to 17 in the first round to select him. While much of the video is understandably dedicated to McCarthy and Turner, you also get some good content around the Vikings' Day 3 haul.

GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has several entertaining lines throughout the video, including this one: "As fired up as you get for Dallas Turner, if we get Rouse, Jurgens, and a kicker, imma be like best draft ever!"

You can watch the video on the Vikings' YouTube page.


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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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