The NFL has done McCarthy no favors, ramping up a gauntlet for the 22-year-old quarterback right out of the gate. Upon the release of the NFL's 2025 season schedule, the Vikings are scheduled to have seven nationally-televised games, putting McCarthy in the limelight early and often.

Having made it clear he is ready for the task of being a starting quarterback, J.J. McCarthy will be tasked with leading a Minnesota Vikings team that has high expectations into the 2025 season.

Four of those games will be played in prime time, starting with the season opener at Chicago. The Vikings won 14 games last season, and after a free agent frenzy that left them with $315 million in cash commitments for 2025, the NFL is ready to expose them to the world. Here's what's in store for the Vikings: