The time has finally come for J.J. McCarthy to solidify himself as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

McCarthy, the No. 10 pick from the 2024 NFL Draft, missed his rookie season due to a torn meniscus. That opened the door for Sam Darnold to start all 17 games. He thrive under head coach Kevin O’Connell, completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards with 35 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His production earned him a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Only time will tell if McCarthy has what it takes to lead the Vikings to the promised land. All we can say for sure is 2025 will go down as a year he’ll never forget.

Not only is McCarthy set to be an NFL starting quarterback, he’s about to become a father. He and his fiancée, Katya Kuropas, announced that they’re expecting a child in September.

“The best surprises come when you least expect them. Our sweet baby boy is arriving in September and we couldn’t be happier,” they wrote in a joint Instagram post.

McCarthy and Kuropas met when they were in high school. Back in 2023, the former Michigan star shared a beautiful message on their anniversary.

“1,825 days with the love of my life but a million moments that will be remembered and cherished for the rest of my life,” McCarthy wrote. “I couldn’t be more grateful for who you are and everything you do! You make me the best version of myself and it has been a complete blessing to continually watch you grow into the amazing woman you are.”

In January 2024, McCarthy and Kuropas got engaged.

As you’d expect, Kuropas is very supportive of McCarthy’s career.

“Extremely delayed but… Reminiscing on how amazing this past season was,” Kuropas wrote on Instagram prior to the 2024 NFL Draft. “An abundance of blessings and the best memories. Feeling so grateful for everything that unfolded & for everyone that was part of it!! Sad to see this chapter go, but excited for the next one.”

There’s no question McCarthy’s family will be cheering him on this NFL season.