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Vikings Head Coach O’Connell Calls Boo-Birds ‘Justified’

Posted on November 17, 2025November 17, 2025 by David Shama

The Vikings disappointed themselves and their sometimes booing home crowd in yesterday’s closing seconds 19-17 loss to the Bears when Chicago’s Cairo Santos booted a walk-off 48-yard field goal.

Part of the fan frustration focused on Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy whose inconsistent play included an on-point performance leading the Vikings to a touchdown drive that put them ahead 17-16 with 50 seconds to play but also included completing just 50 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions.

McCarthy’s lack of accuracy was an issue all game, with balls frequently off target. About halfway through the third period he threw high on an incomplete pass to franchise wide receiver Justin Jefferson.

The boos cascaded down on the field inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

McCarthy, 22, made just his fifth NFL start yesterday. He has minimal experience in his first season as a starter and is dealing with a lot playing for a team with preseason playoff expectations. Head coach Kevin O’Connell was asked today if he was concerned the boos could negatively impact the confidence of the young quarterback.

O’Connell answered no and termed the disgruntlement as justified because the fans have understandable expectations for his team. “The mental toughness and the physical toughness of the player is clear and evident to everybody,” the coach said. “I understand and I think J.J. does (too), the frustration with maybe seeing Justin or (WR) Jordan (Addison) or somebody open and we don’t throw and catch that. There’s a standard we have for ourselves that I hope our fans have for us. I think all that is valid and justified. …”

O’Connell believes all the ongoing preparation work in practice can lead to better performances by his quarterback. That improvement, he said, is expected by others on the team, too.

O’Connell praised the effort and physical play of his team that is now 4-6 and plays in Green Bay Sunday against the 6-3-1 Packers, while stressing the Vikings need to be more consistent in their play. “…We’re going to keep attacking in a way that hopefully makes our fans proud of the way we’re fighting like heck to go 1-0 every week,” O’Connell said.

Worth Noting

Here is an intriguing stat from local sports talk host Phil Mackey writing on X yesterday: With McCarthy quarterbacking, the Vikings have called 16 pass plays on third and fourth downs in short yardage (three yards or less). The results? Zero completions.

Case Keenum, 37 and the quarterback hero of the 2017 Vikings, is the third team QB for the Bears but wasn’t activated for yesterday’s game.

Austin Booker, the Bears defensive lineman who played for the Gophers and Kansas, started at defensive end and the 2024 draft choice had one tackle and one assisted tackle in the game.

BetMGM has the Gophers as 4.5 point underdogs to Northwestern on Saturday at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The stadium also hosted last Saturday’s Michigan-Northwestern game and from 1921-1970 was the Bears home facility.

Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck said today planning for footwear started even in the offseason for playing on grass in late November at Wrigley, the home of the baseball Cubs.

Fleck went to high school in the greater Chicago area and recalled this morning on KFAN Radio a field trip to see the Cubs when Kerry Wood tied a MLB record with 20 strikeouts in a 1998 win over the Astros.

BTW, the view here is Fleck won’t be leaving Minnesota for any of the numerous college football head coaching openings including UCLA where his name has been rumored.

The Gophers have been outscored by 125 to 19 in three Big Ten road losses to No. 1 ranked Ohio State, No. 6 Oregon and previously top 25 Iowa.

The 3-1 basketball Gophers needed overtime to defeat Green Bay by seven points Saturday night, while 3-2 St. Thomas beat the Phoenix 80-61 on Thursday in St. Paul. But the highly respected Pomeroy College Basketball ratings yesterday had Minnesota at No. 86 in the nation and the Tommies at 161.

Reliever Jhoan Duran, part of the Twins trade dump last summer, made the 2025 All-MLB team announced recently. The Phillies’ 27-year-old right-handed fast baller had a career best 32 saves.

Congratulations to ticketing executive Paul Froehle on his 40^th anniversary with the Twins. Earlier in his career he worked in ticket operations for the NHL North Stars.

In this crowded marketplace and during the upcoming holiday season, it will be interesting to monitor both the attendance and the game results at the IHF World Junior Championship December 26-January 5. The 10-nation tournament showcases the best under 20-year-old hockey players in the world. The United States will play Germany in an opening game December 26 at Grand Casino Arena. A portion of the 29-game tournament schedule will also be held at 3M Arena at Mariucci. https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-world-junior-championship-schedule

The U.S. has won the WJC seven times, including three of the past five years. The Americans are two-time defending champions having won 4-3 in overtime against Finland in the 2025 gold-medal game in Ottawa, and they defeated Sweden 6-2 in 2024 at Gothenburg, Sweden.

Minnesota hockey legend Lou Nanne and Gophers coach Bob Motzko will speak to the Twin Cities Dunkers about the tournament on December 1.

Comments Welcome

Fingers Crossed Golden Gophers Can Retain Drake Lindsey

Posted on November 7, 2025November 7, 2025 by David Shama

At what price Drake Lindsey?

University of Minnesota redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Lindsey is certainly a player of interest to other major college football programs. In his first season as a starter he has made his presence known playing the most valued position in football.

The transfer portal has in recent years ignited a massive movement of players in college football like never before. That, of course, includes gifted quarterbacks such as Kansas State transfer Will Howard who last season led Ohio State to the national championship. California transfer Fernando Mendoza is in position to do the same this year playing for undefeated Indiana.

Lindsey has been pivotal to Minnesota’s success. Playing behind a struggling offensive line and with an okay receiver corps, he has led Minnesota to close wins over Rutgers, Purdue and Michigan State. The Gophers, 6-3 overall and 4-2 in Big Ten games, won those games by a total of 13 points. Lindsey has been a clutch performer in big moments including in the overtime victory against Michigan State last week when he rallied the offense late in the fourth quarter and scored the winning touchdown in OT.

If Lindsey is interested in offers from other schools, he could attract more money from wealthy programs than the Gophers can pony up. ESPN.com’s Max Olson reported back in August that based on a survey of agents and college football general managers the going rate for quarterbacks for the 2025 season was $1 million to $2 million. “The great ones,” the story said, are around $3 million.

The price probably goes up (like most everything else) in 2026 and players will see that before and when the transfer portal window opens in January.

Lindsey rates with the better freshman quarterbacks in the nation (see Tom Luginbill’s October 9 ESPN.com story) and his value is discernible even to a layman. He has completed 62.2 percent of his passes, throwing for 1,743 yards. He has 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions. He has for the most part played with poise and precision in both passing and running the team.

Drake Lindsey photo courtesy of University of Minnesota

The production and potential of the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Lindsey has drawn the praise of many observers including former Gopher record-setting quarterback Tanner Morgan. In September he told Sports Headliners that Lindsey could be a coveted NFL Draft choice, perhaps as soon as the end of next season. By then Lindsey will be draft eligible. “I am really excited about him and what he can become,” Morgan said.

Lindsey’s competitiveness, personality and character have significantly impacted the program. He is seen as a leader but also as a young player eager to learn from others. This curiosity to know more and play better is exemplified by his relationship with Max Brosmer, last year’s Gopher starter who continues to mentor the Arkansas native.

With at least two more seasons of college eligibility, make no mistake that other programs will line up to woo Lindsey if they’re encouraged. He might not be interested, though.

Unlike many college players, Lindsey doesn’t come from an impoverished family. His father is a successful real estate entrepreneur. And in the recruiting process Lindsey formed a bond with Gopher head coach P.J. Fleck and offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh Jr. Those relationships are believed to remain strong.

If Lindsey was discouraged about winning games at Minnesota that might prompt a change in residence. Such a mindset is unlikely in place right now. The Gophers might finish the season with an 8-4 record and earn a quality bowl invitation. Next season a core group of outstanding players is eligible to return and with Lindsey produce an even better season. Good players think optimistically, and Lindsey’s view is likely that he can play a significant role in achieving even a stellar season.

The Gophers and other Power 4 programs pay players through revenue sharing from their athletic departments. Players are also significantly compensated through Name, Image and Likeness money they earn for activities such as social media influencing and personal appearances.

At Minnesota and other Power 4 programs around the country compensation to college football players is unknown. But sources talk as evident in the ESPN August story referenced above. And other reports include the rumored NIL money of $10 million or more to bring prize freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood to Michigan for this season and beyond.

Sports Headliners asked the University of Minnesota via the discovery process for specifics regarding revenue share money and its disbursement to players. The reply included this: “Any data we may have regarding payments to individual student-athletes is protected under MN Stat. 13.32 (private student data).”

The Gopher athletic department, per media reports, is believed to be allocating about $15 million to football players in 2025. Many Gophers also have NIL deals, too, including preseason All-American safety Koi Perich and star running back Darius Taylor. The two appear together in a local TV ad for Park Chrysler Jeep.

The way it looks for 2026, Lindsey—now a proven performer at football’s most important position—will be the highest compensated Gopher ever, perhaps earning seven figures in just revenue share money. To retain him, a total package (including NIL money) of $1.2 to $1.5 million could be necessary, with rival programs willing and able to do more.

That guesstimate is made mostly, but not entirely, on the figures in the August ESPN story: “College football 2025: How much does each position cost?” https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/46050629/college-football-2025-position-cost-transfers

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Undrafted Brosmer Wins Confidence of Coach, Teammates

Posted on November 3, 2025November 3, 2025 by David Shama

Max Brosmer, the former Golden Gopher who made the Vikings final roster as an undrafted free agent, is now the No. 2 quarterback behind J.J. McCarthy who has a brief pro history already of injuries.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said this afternoon that veteran QB John Wolford is on the practice squad for now, leaving Brosmer as the game day potential replacement for McCarthy who missed all of last season with a knee injury and was out for five games this year with a high ankle sprain.

Brosmer, 24, is two years older than McCarthy who the Vikings made the No. 10 selection in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Brosmer has six years of college football experience, five with FCS New Hampshire and one at Minnesota. McCarthy is not only younger but played only three years of college football at Michigan, including two as the starter.

O’Connell said his two young quarterbacks have become close, but he also welcomes the present of Wolford who the Vikings signed last week. At 30 years old and having played for multiple NFL teams, Wolford brings experience to the quarterback room even though he last played in a regular season game in December of 2022.

McCarthy has now played in three regular season games including yesterday’s impressive performance in the 27-24 win over the Lions in Detroit. He ran for one touchdown and threw two touchdown passes.

Brosmer has played briefly in two regular-season games, attempting eight passes, completing five and throwing for 42 yards. He played in all three preseason games and completed 35 of 58 passes for 364 yards and two touchdowns.

Although the NFL trade deadline is tomorrow, O’Connell didn’t make it sound like the Vikings are anxious to change their quarterback roster. He has expressed confidence in all three of his guys.

O’Connell added that Brosmer has “been able to grow throughout the season” and that the Georgia native prepares as if he is one snap away from going into the game. Having gone through training camp and multiple weeks of the regular season, Brosmer has won the trust of his teammates, O’Connell said.

“…I think the confidence level (of teammates) would be really high in Max (if he had to replace McCarthy),” the coach said. “I know my confidence level would be very, very high in Max knowing he’s a young player, knowing it would be his first opportunity (to get in a game early). …I would have a lot of confidence in Max and certainly I know Max feels the same way.”

Worth Noting

O’Connell is upbeat about the recovery of Aaron Jones who injured the AC joint in his shoulder yesterday against the Lions. The coach said he will have an update on his starting running back later in the week.

O’Connell offered positive reports on players who have had injuries but came out okay after the game yesterday including McCarthy, Christian Darrisaw, Brian O’Neill and Andrew Van Ginkel. He added that as of today Theo Jackson will be in concussion protocol.

Three Vikings who didn’t play in Detroit because of injuries are C.J. Ham, Josh Oliver and Ryan Kelly. Their returns to game action are unknown as they work through rehab.

Radio game day voices of the Vikings, Paul Allen, Pete Bercich and Ben Leber, share their insights about the team with Capital Club attendees on November 11 at the Minnesota Vikings Museum in Eagan. More information about the breakfast gathering and club is available from Patrick Klinger, patrick@agilemarketingco.com.

The new Musco lighting system at Target Center is believed to cost lower seven figures and is paid for by the Timberwolves. The city owned facility now has lighting similar to other NBA venues, spotlighting the action on the court in theater-style.

Anthony Edwards, who suffered a right hamstring strain in a game Oct. 26, is cleared for contact basketball activities, the Wolves announced today. His game availability remains out while he continues to progress with his rehab program.

Josh Minott and Luka Garza, now with the Celtics after playing the three previous seasons for the Wolves, are averaging career high numbers in minutes played per game. Minott’s is at 21.8 minutes and averaging a career best 8.3 points. Garza is at 14.3 minutes and is near a career high in points per game, 6.2 compared to 6.5 in 2022-2023 with the Wolves.

Former Gopher men’s basketball player Parker Fox has been hired by the Big Ten Network to provide color commentary on telecasts.

The hiring of Derek Shelton as the new Twins manager was ripped by a knowledgeable source who reached out to Sports Headliners. He described it as a typical blunder by the Pohlads, a safe, cheap and sad hire.

Talk among a couple of knowledgeable Twins sources is that baseball and business operations boss Derek Falvey didn’t want to fire Rocco Baldelli after the season but was told to by ownership. Falvey hired Baldelli in October of 2018 and the two were believed to have a solid relationship.

Rawlings and Minor League baseball announced Gold Glove winners yesterday including High-A Cedar Rapids second baseman Kyle DeBarge who is the No. 11 prospect in the Twins farm system. The 22-year-old former 2024 draft pick had just six errors in 279 chances last season.

Ty France, who started the season with the Twins before being traded to the Blue Jays, won the American League Gold Glove Award for his fielding at first base. He was +10 Outs Above Average in 2025.

The 6-3 Gopher football team has lost all three of its road games, with remaining away games at Oregon and Northwestern. The Gophers, on a six-game home winning streak, have one remaining game in Minneapolis, the season finale against Wisconsin. Minnesota was 4-2 in away games last year including the bowl win in Charlotte.

The Golden Gopher 2027 lineup of Big Ten home games is a marketing dream for selling tickets at Huntington Bank Stadium. Minnesota has five league games (happens every other year) with a glitzy lineup of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Washington and Wisconsin.

With last Saturday’s 45-0 win over Marist, St. Thomas head football coach Glenn Caruso and associate head coach Wallie Kuchinski coached their 200^th game with the Tommies. Their all-time record is 163-37 at St. Thomas.

The Minnesota Football Coaches Association has a membership drive to exceed 1,200 members. The organization is a pillar for the success of high school football in the state with its awards, events, scholarships and other activities to promote the game. https://www.mshsca.org/joinnow

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