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The Vikings' QB Battle Could Make or Break Josh McCown's Coaching Future
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- The Vikings' QB Battle Could Make or Break Josh McCown's Coaching Future
Everybody knows about the battle between Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy and how it could affect the team , how it could affect the players , and how it's affecting several pundits around the league that can't seem to shut up about it, but we haven't talked much about a guy that could affected the most by the outcome of this battle, that guy would be Vikings quarterback coach Josh McCown . Josh McCown is only a few years removed from his own career as an NFL quarterback and has already created a nice career for himself as a QB coach, and he's already looking like a guy who could be a head coach in a year or two, as long as this season doesn't tank his stock.
Josh McCown already has tons of interest all across the league
Nov 9, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterbacks coach Josh McCown watches his team play against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports
This offseason, the Vikings reportedly had to block McCown from interviewing for a job under John Harbaugh as the Giants passing game coordinator. McCown has also received interest from several other teams over the last few years, including a head coach interview for the Jets last offseason (Aaron Glenn was hired). Luckily for the Vikings, Josh McCown seems to like it in Minneapolis, apparently rejecting numerous promotions from other teams to stay on the Vikings staff, but eventually the offers will get too big to say no to, especially if he can find success with either McCarthy or Murray.
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Going from QB coach to head coach would be exceedingly Rare
In the history of the NFL, no coach since Andy Reid in 1999 has been promoted from QB coach to head coach directly, and he had 7 years of pro coaching experience and an additional 10 years of college coaching experience before the promotion. Despite that fact, there have been reports that many teams see him as a legitimate candidate to be a head coach next year if he can continue to prove his ability to get the best out of his quarterbacks.
McCown's resume needs one more QB reclamation project to secure a HC spot
Oct 5, 2025; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) warms up before their game against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
You may be asking yourself what makes McCown so special? What has he done to warrant such hype and fervor from teams around the league? The simple answer: Sam Darnold . Obviously his decade-plus of solid backup play and intimate knowledge of the game certainly helps, but what gets people really excited is how much better he seemingly made Sam Darnold during his 2024 stint in Minnesota , turning the QB from a draft bust and afterthought into a guy who has won 31 games in the last two years!
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That view of McCown as a QB whisperer who can turn busts into stars needs reaffirming after a year of poor QB play, albeit under tough circumstances that weren't entirely under McCown's control, now with two possible options at QB, McCown has the ability to prove that 2024 wasn't a fluke and that he really is a generational player-first coach that can get the most out of his players, earning him a solid look as a head coach. On the flip side, however, a poor performance by both Murray and McCarthy, leading to another disappointing season, could ruin the mystique and hype around the ascending coach.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
