Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell went above and beyond for Michigan Wolverines football legend J.J. McCarthy during his recovery from an MCL injury.

Even factoring in those lost seasons, O'Connell helped his Week 1 quarterbacks compile a combined record of 59-33 during this seven-year span. That was good enough for four different playoff appearances, or 57% of the time he served as a passing game coordinator, offensive coordinator or head coach.

During a recent chat with Kevin Seifert of ESPN, O'Connell touched upon how his experiences with McCarthy throughout the 2024 campaign helped Minnesota determine that the 22-year-old will be ready to serve as Sam Darnold's full-time replacement this September.