JJ McCarthy didn’t get a chance to spike the football during the New York Giants‘ overtime win in Houston on Sunday, so his wife did it for the resurgent quarterback on social media.
‘God, I love you,’ Katya McCarthy wrote on Instagram alongside highlights from the game. ‘So deserving.’
The proud moment for Katya came after months of turbulence in Minnesota, where McCarthy began his once-promising career in 2024 before falling out of favor with the Vikings.
This season, after the Giants lost quarterback Jaxson Dart to a knee injury, the former Michigan star and 10th-overall draft pick was traded by Minnesota to New York for a fifth-round pick. And after Dart backup Jameis Winston struggled while going 2-1-1 as a starter, Giants coach John Harbaugh promoted McCarthy.
Although he was up and down in relief of Winston in last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, McCarthy was sharp in his first start with the Giants (4-2-1) on Sunday, completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards. And best of all, McCarthy didn’t turn the ball over, which is something that had plagued him over 10 starts with the Vikings.
‘Obviously there were moments in the past where I was like, ‘Why me?’ McCarthy told reporters after the win. ‘A beautiful thing that was said in chapel one time was, ‘Don’t ask why; ask what’s next.’
McCarthy was sharp in his first start with the Giants (4-2-1) on Sunday, completing 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards. And best of all, McCarthy didn’t turn the ball over
The proud moment for Katya came after months of turbulence in Minnesota, where McCarthy began his once-promising career in 2024 before falling out of favor with the Vikings
Katya and JJ are seen with their dog. The couple has been together since high school
‘Really just focus on the next step in front of you and how you could attack that to the best of your ability,’ he continued. ‘It’s one of those things where you think you’re starting over, but no, you’re starting from experience. To be able to be plugged into this group and this culture, I’m just extremely honored.’
‘I thought he did a great job,’ Harbaugh said after the win. ‘He made some great throws. I’m sure he didn’t play perfect, but he played a heck of a football game, and he deserves a lot of credit.’
Harbaugh gave McCarthy the honorary game ball after the win, prompting a speech from the team’s new starting quarterback.
‘I don’t got a whole lot to say, but I am just so frigging blessed to be part of this group,’ McCarthy said, as seen in locker room video. ‘I felt you guys, all frigging day, had my back, and you know I got yours the rest of the f***ing way. Hey, this is just the f***ing beginning. This group is so talented, but the secret sauce is the s*** we just did out there, the resilience, the will to finish no matter what it looks like. I f***ing love you boys.’
McCarthy worked Sunday in the same building, Houston’s Reliant Stadium, where he previously won a national championship playing for Harbaugh’s brother Jim with the Wolverines.
Giants head coach John Harbaugh gave McCarthy (right) the honorary game ball after the win
Katya posted this photo of herself from what appears to be an upscale Manhattan restaurant
Things have changed considerably for the 23-year-old, and even if Dart can return for a playoff run, McCarthy suddenly seems to have rejuvenated his career.
‘JJ McCarthy showed a little something today,’ NFL insider and Monday Morning Quarterback columnist Albert Breer wrote on X.
McCarthy and the former Katya Kuropas were married in April following the birth of their first child.
The two high school sweethearts appear to be enjoying the New York area. While he technically works in East Rutherford, New Jersey, she recently posted a photo of herself at what appeared to be an upscale Manhattan restaurant bathroom.
‘I [heart] it here,’ read the caption, which presumably referred to the city and not the bathroom.
