” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/USATSI_18925293.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=801,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/USATSI_18925293.jpg”> Richard Sherman stuck a fork into the J.J. McCarthy era<\/a> after 90 minutes of football. <\/p>\n Richard Sherman trashed the Vikings for no good reason, leaving fans puzzled during MNF. In the end, purple fans got the last laugh.<\/strong><\/p>\n Mind-bogglingly, while live-tweeting his observations of the game, the future Hall of Famer skewered the Minnesota Vikings\u2019 offseason decision-making, insinuating the club should\u2019ve kept quarterback Sam Darnold, who now plays for Sherman\u2019s old team, the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Naturally, the tweet aged horribly.<\/p>\n In the end, the man got it wrong. <\/strong><\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=750,height=422,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/USATSI_11228815.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1024,height=683,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/USATSI_11228815.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=750,height=422,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/USATSI_11228815.jpg” alt=”Richard Sherman lines up during the 49ers\u2019 game against the Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium.”> McCarthy and the Vikings struggled tremendously out of the gate on Monday Night Football<\/em>, prompting Sherman to declare that the franchise had made a major mistake.<\/p>\n \u201cNot sure JJ McCarthy is the Answer in Minnesota. This is the danger of letting the guy who you had success with walk for a guy you \u2018think\u2019 can do the job at a high level,\u201d Sherman tweeted<\/a> to his 1.9 million followers.<\/p>\n The tweet turned heads because of its heat-of-the-moment flavor. <\/p>\n A quarterback cannot be judged in an hour and a half, especially during his first-ever start. In fact, McCarthy\u2019s woes should\u2019ve been expected<\/em> after not playing much in the preseason and performing in a hostile environment, also known as Soldier Field.<\/p>\n Many NFL and Vikings fans had to do a double-take to make sure the Sherman tweet wasn\u2019t from a troll account on social media \u2014 it was that bombastic.<\/p>\n Sherman, of all people, should know a rookie quarterback is almost destined to start slow in his inaugural game.<\/p>\n The tweet also hinted that Minnesota blundered by letting Sam Darnold<\/a> leave in free agency. On Sunday, Darnold lost his team the game because of a game-ending fumble in the redzone. And that was after the man utterly collapsed when Minnesota needed him the most in 2024. <\/p>\n While it was fair to raise an eyebrow regarding McCarthy\u2019s first-half showing at Chicago<\/a>, the man barnstormed the 4th Quarter, banking 3 touchdowns and a memorable comeback that no Vikings fans will ever forget.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27037084_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=786,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27037084_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/USATSI_27037084_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt=”J.J. McCarthy reacts after leading the Vikings to a win over the Bears at Soldier Field.” > His team won by three points, and McCarthy later won the NFC Offensive Player of the Week award, making Sherman\u2019s tweet look absolutely foolish and outlandishly prisoner of the moment.<\/p>\n Sherman did his best to backtrack after Minnesota prevailed, using a guise of \u201cI love football\u201d to absolve his bizarre rush to judgment.<\/p>\n \u201cI love football. Bad Start by McCarthy solid start By Caleb. Then a total flip in the 2nd half and by the QBs and McCarthy brings the Vikings back. Fun start to the season. New story every week,\u201d he posted<\/a> to X <\/em>after Minnesota won.<\/p>\n ” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/USATSI_18894976.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/USATSI_18894976.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/USATSI_18894976.jpg” alt=”Richard Sherman on the Amazon Prime set before the Rams vs. Texans game at SoFi Stadium.”> Fans did not let him forget in the tweet\u2019s comments, and to his credit, Sherman did not delete the initial alarmist tweet.<\/p>\n Zone <\/em>Coverage<\/em>\u2018s<\/span> Tom Schreier opined<\/a> on McCarthy\u2019s debut this week: \u2018At one point, the Vikings were zero for eight on third down. They didn\u2019t convert a third down until scoring their first touchdown to make it 17-12 in the fourth quarter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill, McCarthy said he was in the huddle on the previous drive when he told his teammates, \u2018Where else would you rather be?\u2019 The Vikings might as well have been 20,000 leagues under the sea at that point. They had to be experiencing the kind of pressure that gives you the bends. They were rapidly descending into Lake Michigan like an unstable cruise liner. How would they resurface? It looked like the kind of loss that could sink a season.\u201d<\/p>\nFootball A Ruthless Tweet Courtesy of Richard Sherman about the Vikings<\/h2>\n
Sep 9, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Francisco 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during a game between the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n
Richard Sherman Claims J.J. McCarthy Is \u201cNot the Answer\u201d after 90 Minutes<\/h3>\n
A Mind-Boggling Time to Cast Judgment<\/h3>\n
McCarthy Later Delivered the Goods<\/h3>\n
Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts after defeating the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
A Backtrack?<\/h3>\n
Aug 19, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Richard Sherman on the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football set before the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n
More on McCarthy\u2019s Debut<\/h3>\n
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