J.J. McCarthy’s journey to the NFL is nothing short of remarkable. With talent and determination, he carved his path towards the NFL, with a standout performance within his first game, cementing history as the first player to have three touchdowns within the 4th quarter in their first game.
Born on January 20, 2003, in Evanston, Illinois, J.J. McCarthy grew up in La Grange Park. At an early age, he led Nazareth Academy to a Class 7A Illinois state championship and transferred to IMG Academy due to COVID-19 restrictions. He led them to an undefeated season and a high school national championship. With this success, McCarthy later committed to the University of Michigan, and within his sophomore year, led Michigan to a Big Ten Championship with an undefeated regular season. Within his following school year, he led Michigan to another undefeated season and a National Championship, Michigan’s first since 1997.
This standout performance has led him to be drafted 10th within the 2024 NFL draft, but sadly, he suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee, causing him to miss his rookie season. Luckily, he was able to recover and be ready for the 2025 season and made his debut against the Chicago Bears within the first official game of the season. J.J. McCarthy completed 13 of 20 passes for 143 yards, throwing two passing touchdowns, and adding a rushing touchdown within the 4th quarter of the game. With his debut, he was awarded NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
McCarthy was injured in his next game and will be out 2–4 weeks, but his historic debut already showed what he’s capable of. This brief pause only sets the stage for an even greater comeback, giving him the chance to turn that spark into a lasting legacy.
