J.J. McCarthy won’t just be changing uniforms this week.
The new Giants quarterback, who wore No. 9 at the University of Michigan and with the Vikings, will not get the same number with Big Blue. McCarthy will instead double up that number and wear 18 with the Giants, according to the team’s roster page.
Tight end Isaiah Likely will keep No. 9.
Nine and McCarthy had become a sort of meme, particularly in football circles on social media, when McCarthy explained in a press conference last November that he has an alter ego on the field.
“I call him Nine,” McCarthy said. “Nine comes out, and I gotta understand, like, OK, he can’t be at his peak performance throughout three and a half hours. So how do I find little ways on the sideline, get back to my breath, get back to my visualization, that can kind of maintain that intense, competitive stamina throughout the whole game? It’s just the pure will, determination to get the job done.”
Whether he’ll go by “18” now remains an open question, but the bigger picture is that McCarthy will get a second NFL chance just three seasons after being selected 10th overall by Minnesota in the draft.
McCarthy, 24, missed what would have been his rookie season in 2024 and returned to the field in 2025 in what was an up-and-down year. He did post a 6-4 record — battling an ankle sprain and fracture in his right hand — but threw 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions with a 57.6 completion percentage. His 72.6 quarterback rating was the worst out of 33 qualified quarterbacks.
His fate in Minnesota was all but sealed this season when the Vikings traded for Kyler Murray and made McCarthy the No. 3 quarterback behind Carson Wentz.
McCarthy helps the Giants fill a void in their quarterback room after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2.
For now, Jameis Winston remains the starter. The Giants will soon decide whether it will be McCarthy or Jake Haener in the backup role on Sunday against the Cardinals.
“Really glad, really happy, very excited to add J.J. McCarthy,” head coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “I think he’s a strong young quarterback … very talented player and he’s gonna make us a stronger football team. I think it makes us better.”
“He’s a talented guy,” Harbaugh added. “There’s just no doubt about it, he’s talented. He was a top-10 pick for a reason. I know he didn’t hold on to that job in Minnesota and that’s why he’s available.”
