J.J. McCarthy’s Rookie Show Performance Revealed

Unless you’re team is selected for HBO Hardknocks, it’s not to often you get to see or hear about what goes on behind closed doors of the team facility. One thing that nearly every team does at some point in the offseason is making rookies do some type of show or performance in front of the whole team.

As it relates to the Minnesota Vikings’, fans typically don’t get to hear about what the rookies do. However, appearing on the Scoop City podcast, head coach Kevin O’Connell reveled what J.J. McCarthy did for his rookie show performance. It makes it that much more special given the recent announcement by the team that McCarthy’s season is over. He tore is meniscus in the first preseason game.

J.J. McCarthy sings one of Tupac’s songs

Appearing with Dianna Russini’s (The Athletic) on the Scoop City Podcast this past week, O’Connell said that McCarthy sang a song by Tupac for his rookie show performance. Although the exact song by Tupac wasn’t mentioned in the podcast, O’Connell did elaborate more on what McCarthy did.

Related: Minnesota Vikings’ to Pursue Top Wide Receiver Next Offseason?

After selecting a Tupac song, the team offered him background music for the song to be played. O’Connell said that McCarthy declined the background music and only asked for someone to give him a beat. O’Connell finished the story by telling Russini that he “nailed it”.

Per @Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell via @DMRussini on Scoop City, J.J. McCarthy, for his rookie show performance, sang Tupac.

McCarthy declined the background music and only asked for someone to give him a beat.

O’Connell said he “nailed it” 😂 pic.twitter.com/xo39MB7xRO

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) August 16, 2024

Although Minnesota Vikings’ fans will unlikely never see the video of this performance by McCarthy, it’s a fun story given everything we know about McCarthy now. He’s a leader, a winner, and the future franchise quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.