Life-changing week for Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy moves to Sunday Night Football

At just 22 years old, JJ McCarthy is living two dream scenarios at once, becoming an NFL starting quarterback and starting a family. The Minnesota Vikings rookie opened the season by leading his team to a comeback win on Monday Night Football, but a few days later, the spotlight shifted from the field to the hospital room.

On September 12, McCarthy and his longtime fiancée, Katya Kuropas, welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Rome Micah McCarthy. Weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measuring 21 inches, the newborn arrived just in time to give the rookie quarterback a little extra “dad strength” before his second career start.

Katya’s message to her quarterback

Before the Vikings hosted the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, Kuropas marked the occasion with a simple but powerful note. Sharing a photo of their son, she wrote:

“Let’s go dada!!!”

It was the kind of post that showed the world what McCarthy is now playing for. While his job puts him under the NFL’s brightest lights, his biggest support comes from home.

A bond years in the making

McCarthy and Kuropas have been together since high school, and their relationship has grown alongside his rise from Michigan standout to first-round draft pick. They announced their engagement in early 2024 and revealed their pregnancy news in May. Now, with the arrival of their son, they’re navigating the whirlwind of NFL life and parenthood at the same time.

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Balancing football and fatherhood

McCarthy’s debut in Chicago showed plenty of promise, as he guided Minnesota to a 27-24 win after trailing by double digits. But more than the stats or touchdowns, his fiancée’s words highlighted a bigger story: a young quarterback trying to balance the pressure of leading an NFL franchise with the joy of being a new father.

That family foundation could become his strongest motivator as the season unfolds,  especially with major challenges ahead on the schedule.

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