Colin Cowherd Compares J.J. McCarthy's Vikings to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs

Colin Cowherd Compares J.J. McCarthy's Vikings to Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings are entering the 2025 NFL season with a major change in the roster. After parting ways with Sam Darnold in the free agency, all eyes are on J.J. McCarthy, who'll take the QB mantle in the upcoming season.

Sam Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 regular-season record, but the Vikings let him walk out and join the Seattle Seahawks on a three-year, $100 million deal. McCarthy, who was drafted at No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, missed his entire rookie season due to an injury.

As the 22-year-old gears up for his debut, there are rising concerns about his performance and whether he'll be able to replicate Darnold's numbers. Amid all the discussions and speculations, NFL analyst Colin Cowherd drew parallels between McCarthy and three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.

"I'm gonna throw this comp out. You may think it's crazy, but for most of my life, the Kansas City Chiefs were very good, very well-run. And then they got Andy Reid and Mahomes, and they're a dynasty. I honestly think the NFC version of the Chiefs is Minnesota," Cowherd said.

He even compared the Vikings' head coach, Kevin O'Connell, to the Chiefs' HC Andy Reid. Cowherd is hopeful about McCarthy doing what Mahomes did in the Kansas City.

"My whole life, they've been well-owned, well-run," he said. "They've got their Andy Reid in my opinion. They just don't have the quarterback. But most of your life and my life, you like their GM. They had good players. They won games."

"I mean, Kirk Cousins won half his games against Aaron Rodgers, but so I feel like it, they're just that franchise that just needs the piece. So, you cross your fingers if you're a Vikings fan."

Mahomes led the Chiefs to the Vince Lombardi trophy after 50 years in his third season with the franchise. But it doesn't mean the Chiefs were doing horrible without him. They had a winning record without him in the previous four seasons, making it to the postseason thrice.

But the three-time Super Bowl MVP proved to be the final piece of the puzzle. After taking the QB1 spot in his second season, Mahomes has guided the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances in the last six seasons, winning the whole thing three times.

The Vikings have also recorded 13 and 14-win seasons in the last three years. They have a generational talent in Justin Jefferson. The team has seen upgrades in the offensive and defensive departments. It's showtime for McCarthy, who seems pumped up to prove his worth.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 24, 2025, where it first appeared.