Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy on Vikings' QB battle mindset: 'We're both competitors'

The Minnesota Vikings are letting J.J. McCarthy and Kyler Murray battle for their starting quarterback job in 2026.

The duo shed some light on how that battle is impacting their relationship at a recent media availability.

Both Murray and McCarthy spoke to reporters during Minnesota's OTA practice session on May 27. The 28-year-old Murray stated that the relationship between the two was "great" and implied he was hoping to be a resource-slash-mentor for the 2024 first-round pick.

"Obviously I know he's a younger guy, so any way I can help him, obviously I feel like - I've played seven years now, going on eight, so I'm considered a veteran, even though I don't consider myself as that - [I'll] give him any knowledge that he needs," Murray said. "We're both competitors, and I know we both want what's best for the team."

Meanwhile, McCarthy took a bit of a different tone despite insisting there was no "awkwardness" between the two signal-callers.

"It's just like two guys in a classroom," McCarthy told reporters. "He sits on one side, I sit on the other side, and it's the coach's responsibility to teach us and coach us."

"It's just like the same feeling when you're in high school and there's another person on the other side of the room," he added after a follow-up question. "That's just kind of how it is. I wouldn't say there's any awkwardness."

Kyler Murray-JJ McCarthy competition

The Vikings signed Murray during the offseason to compete with McCarthy, who struggled in his first season as the team's primary starter. The 2024 first-round pick posted a 6-4 record across 10 starts but but completed just 57.6% of his passes for 1,623 yards, 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while battling a high-ankle sprain, a concussion and a broken hand.

McCarthy had no qualms about the organization adding Murray to participate in the "true competition." The Michigan product also expressed confidence about the strides he made late during the 2025 NFL season.

"The organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room, and they feel like they made that decision," McCarthy said. "All I'm thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season, that last quarter of the season, and continuing to be the best version of me every single day."

McCarthy won his final four starts of the 2025 NFL season and completed 64.3% of his passes for 703 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions over that span with a 100.4 passer rating.

The Vikings signed Murray despite McCarthy's late-season progress, but the 23-year-old said he wasn't overly disappointed by the decision.

"Then I would be disappointed if the rain fell," McCarthy said. "That's out of my control, and at the end of the day, I've just got to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for the football team."

Kevin O'Connell and the Vikings have not provided a concrete timeframe during which to establish a starter, so this battle figures to linger into the team's training camp and preseason.

Many believe Murray will ultimately end up being the choice, but the 2019 first-round pick isn't discounting McCarthy as the two do battle and forge a relationship.

"He's always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that," Murray said of working with McCarthy. "So, it's been good."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kyler Murray-J.J. McCarthy competition: Vikings QBs insist there is no 'awkwardness'