J.J. McCarthy Makes 1st Comments Since Getting Traded to Giants: 'Shock'

J.J. McCarthy made his first comments since getting traded to the New York Giants on Friday. 

McCarthy was traded to the Giants for a fifth-round pick after two-plus years in Minnesota.

The Vikings drafted him in the top 10 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

"When I got the call here, it was a shock. I didn't anticipate it, but at the end of the day, it's an opportunity," McCarthy said in his first comments since the trade. "It's an opportunity to take advantage of. And I love these guys already and I can't wait to do it for them."

McCarthy appeared in 10 games with the Vikings. He threw for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 57.6% of his passes. 

McCarthy spent this week working with the scout team for the Giants.

Veteran Jameis Winston remains the team's starting quarterback after second-year QB Jaxson Dart was recently lost for the rest of the season.  

McCarthy isn't thinking about becoming the Giants' starter. He said he's focused on this week's game plan and being as prepared as possible.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh wouldn't say whether McCarthy would be the second- or third-string quarterback this week against the Arizona Cardinals. 

"[McCarthy] practiced the things we asked him to do," Harbaugh said. "We had the different things for him here and there. A lot of it is just learning the offense. Thought he did a good job with that, 24/7 almost. Really trying to be immersed in the offense. He wants to learn. He wants to know it all. And that's what we've been working on. So it's just kind of what you'd expect."

McCarthy acknowledged that he was quite familiar with Harbaugh. He played for John's brother, Jim, at the University of Michigan, where they won the national championship.

John Harbaugh acknowledged watching McCarthy closely during that time and noted that his brother always had good things to say about him as a quarterback and person.

McCarthy was appreciative.

"Absolutely love the Harbaugh family," he said. "They're made of the right stuff. Faith, family, football. Just everything [John Harbaugh] did in Baltimore, it was super inspiring just to see him take a team and have that success for such a long period of time. And being in this building, you feel it. You feel it. He's made of the right stuff. He says the right things. He guides his players in the right direction. And yeah, I'm really excited to play for him."

McCarthy said he hasn't heard from Jim Harbaugh since the trade. He also didn't want to get into what went wrong in Minnesota.

He's turned the page on that chapter of his playing career.

"There's a multitude of things you could think of [why it didn't work out], but at the end of the day, it's all in the past," he said. "And all I care about is what's important now -- that next rep, that next meeting, that next game. And that's really all I'm focused on."

What makes McCarthy optimistic it will work out in New York? He doesn't know. 

"At the end of the day, nobody knows," McCarthy said. "I'm really just focused on right now. I'm focused on doing whatever I can to help this team win, do whatever I can to help Jameis, help Jaxson through this injury. I had it my rookie year and it absolutely sucks. And I feel for him like crazy [Brian Burns]. I feel for him. You never want to see a season-ending injury regardless of what team you're on and I'm just doing my best to make an impact on this team in any way possible."

The Giants are 2-1. Dart underwent surgery last Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee.

Dart finished his rookie season with 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He completed 63.7% of his passes and went 4-8 as a starter after taking over for Russell Wilson.

This season, Dart had 250 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 54 rushing yards before getting hurt in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams.