September 5, 2025 • 22 mins
Welcome to the premier episode of the Two Minute Warning - presented by 3M - The official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Host Tatum Everett showcases some of the best content of the week from the Vikings Entertainment Network. On this week's show, we hear from Head Coach Kevin O'Connell, Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Justin Jefferson, and more. Be sure to check out all of the Vikings content channels, including: the Vikings App, Youtube page, social channels and more for full episodes of all our content.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to the premiere episode of The Two Minute Warning,
presented by three M, the official science partner of the
Minnesota Vikings. I'm your host, Tatum Everett from the Vikings
Entertainment Network, and we're excited to debut a new show
for you this week from TCO Radio Studios. Each and
every Friday will be showcasing the most important pieces of
content to get you up to speed with the latest
(00:26):
Viking news, like press conferences, one on one interviews, behind
the scenes moments, and more. As we head into the weekend,
Vikings fans have to wait a little bit longer for
their team's season opener. Minnesota travels to Chicago for Monday
Night football, so as you can imagine, it has been
a busy week. Let's kick off the show with the
leader of this Viking squad, head coach Kevin O'Connell. KAO
(00:48):
spoke with Paul Allen on Tuesday about the importance of
putting your best foot forward on the biggest stage.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
How long have you guys worked on this Bears game?
And by the way, it's great to have you back.
Good to see you again.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It's great to see you guys.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Yeah, we uh, you know, we had a really good
training camp, you know, but we you know, we started
transitioning to uh, this really good Bears team, and with
what Ben's got going on and DA on the defensive side,
we've we've tried to transition and get our work in
you know, methodically here basically since right before the Tennessee game.
(01:24):
So we've been we've been at it for a while.
You want to make sure you don't go in with
a thousand plays.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
We want to have.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Great execution and and uh excited for our guys.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
And this is x's and no's with the Kevin O'Connell
and I'm Paul Allen, Vikings and Bears shortly after seven
o'clock on Monday night season opener, Monday Night Football Vikings
at Bears. What what are you liking about JJ McCarthy
up to the season opener?
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Yeah, I think he had a really good training camp
where there was some there was some real competitive moments.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Where he you know, he responded really well.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
The joint practice he had, you know, some some great
work there and and really kind of day over day
seeing him grow in a really quick timeline there and
then I just like the way he's handled it from
really the spring until now. But as we know it's
going to be, you know, a big moment for him.
We know that, and we want to basically surround him
(02:16):
with you know, the best guys we can in the huddle.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
We feel like we've done that.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We feel like the other side of the ball is
going to play good football defensively for us as well
as in the kicking game. And then it's just going
to come down to a lot of really boring things
that probably don't you know, fill a lot of great time,
you know, nine to noon or in the pregame show.
But it's going to come down to you know, footwork
and and his comfort in doing the things that he's
(02:42):
done a lot now on the practice field and throughout
this offseason really since we got going in in April,
and and how consistent can he be despite you know,
it being Monday night football and a road start. We
know the place is going to be rocking there. They're
excited about their team and we're excited about ours. So
what that means is we need to make it about execution.
(03:05):
We need to make it about play style. We need
to make it about the things that we talk about
as a team. And that's got to come to life,
and if it doesn't, then you know we're gonna you know,
we didn't do a very good job preparing the team.
And I just believe that it's the Minnesota Vikings versus
the Chicago Bears. It's one of seventeen this season, it's
a divisional opponent on the road. They're very important games, obviously,
(03:28):
but I think it's it comes down to a lot
of really minute details of how comfortable all of our
guys are, not just our quarterback going in executing that,
playing fast, the physicality of it, and all the things
that makes our game so great, you know, come to
life on Monday night.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know, Coach O'Connell has had the season opener circled
on his calendar since this schedule came out in May,
and you can hear how much he's prepared this team
to get off to a fast start. You can check
out coach's entire interview on X's and O's earlier this week,
on YouTube, the Vikings app, or anywhere you get your
favorite audio. Since we just heard from the offensive side
(04:07):
of the ball, why don't we shift our sights to
the defense, And here from defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who's
entering his third season with the Vikings. Floyd talked about
what his team can expect when facing a new look
Bears offense led by quarterback Caleb Williams.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
You know, going to Chicago, it's going to be a
very tough environment. As you all know, it's a hard
place to play. I know that stadium is going to
be rocking. They've got a really really good football team,
explosive guys on the offensive side of the ball, and
it's going to be a big, big challenge for us.
So you know, we're just trying to string some good
days together right now, good meetings, to walk throughs and
(04:43):
good practices and you know, looking forward to Monday night.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Though you go through the press for Ben Johnson, how
much do you lean on the lionstone from the past
versus different things?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I think, you know, first we start with, you know,
the players you know for Chicago. Obviously starting with the
quarterback Kale He's you know, poses a lot of problems,
you know with his quarterback mobility, his arm strength and
his ability to just have make the off schedule UH plays.
And then Swift in the backfield, and obviously Dj Moore
(05:16):
and Rome and you know, the tight end group and
with Loveland and Comet, so they've got a lot of
skilled players along with the old line. And then you
combine that with you know, Ben, who we know well
from Detroit, and there's some predicting, some forecasting, but you
just you know, we don't know one has a crystal ball,
so we don't know, you know, what Ben's got cooked
up or what his thought process is. I think for us,
(05:39):
it's really more about fundamentals and techniques and you know,
having good communication, really weak ones normally about that and
that's really where our focus has been. Just you know,
let's make sure we're aligned, right, you know, we we've
got you know, good hand place and good footwork, good communication,
you know, and you know, I think if we do that,
(05:59):
you know, because distantly over sixty minutes, you know, hopefully
we put ourselves in best positions.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
What makes been.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Yeah, I mean he's I mean, what doesn't make it tough?
I mean it's the run game, it's the past game,
it's the play action game, it's the screen game.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It's the.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know, gun runs, underruns, underplay action, gun play action,
I mean, anything, third down, red Zone. You know, he
does a good job of you know, putting it all together.
You know, things that look like one thing there's two, three,
four or five things out of it. So you really
it really boils down to your techniques, your fundamentals. You know,
he's done, you know, an incredible job obviously did in Detroit.
(06:44):
You know, he's one of the great football minds and
in our game, and you know it's always a challenge
to go up against him, and we we're excited. Also,
I mean it's a great environment, great atmosphere, and you
know it would be a great challenge. But between you
know the players and you know the coaching staff, you know,
certainly a big challenge.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
That was coach Brian Flores from his weekly press conference
on Thursday afternoon. You can watch the entire presser on
the Vikings YouTube channel or the Vikings app while you're there. Also,
be sure to check out the latest edition of The Voyage.
This week, they have a behind the scenes look at
Josh Mattella's signing his new deal, the trade for Adam Thielen,
and the optimism surrounding the Vikings twenty twenty five season.
(07:28):
Let's hear from members of the media on why they
think this team is ready for a breakout year.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
If I was going to describe like a vibe or
an aura of a team, this is a team of
radical optimism. There's something under the surface here and you've
got to come be here to really see it and
feel it.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Welcome back from the belly of the Vikings Beast Tco
Performance Center.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yes, training camp is upon us.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
Minnesota has its summers, and people lean into that and
they enjoy that time. But when summer starts to kind
of feel like it's coming to a close, it does
kind of just naturally transition into football season, and I
think people attach themselves to the Vikings.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
There is nothing better, in my opinion, in covering this
team and doing this job. When you start to see
the logos around town, when you start to hear it
on the radio, and when you see the passion energy
that people have for this organization. I mean you can
really feel it for this specific training camp.
Speaker 9 (08:30):
I smell optimism, and yeah, that's what you smell every
time I come to a training camp. Vikings a team
that's just loaded with star players, loaded with potential.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
There is something different about the energy and the anticipation
for what might be possible in twenty twenty five, and.
Speaker 8 (08:46):
Prediction for this season is that the Vikings are getting.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
To go all the way super Bowl champion did.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Do yeah, well, beating the Backs both times does the
arch Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
The Minnesota Vikings won fourteen last year. We have a
night practice tonight as we begin the reconstruction of a dream.
Speaker 8 (09:05):
There's optimism and there's excitement about something that's new.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
This is kind of that reset again where after all
of these years back, can we draft and develop that
next great franchise QB.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
This is what Kevin O'Connell's trying to do.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This is it When he comes down those stairs, the
place is gonna go nuts.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
There are people lined up outside of this for about
an hour, like people are pumped man for this, and
it's because this can be a top three or four team.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
It's an exciting time.
Speaker 10 (09:31):
Man. Let me tell you something. This football team is
having a great camp. Great camp right here.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
I question every year white people are still sleeping on
the Vikings. But they might like it that way because
you turn your back on them for one second and
they're running right past you.
Speaker 10 (09:47):
But I have to say this year just kind of
feels different.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think you're gonna be very proud of this team
this year.
Speaker 10 (09:52):
We're gonna get ready to go to work at Monday
night football at Chicago. It's gonna come here before.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You know it self.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
Does said does an have for the teams that can
win the Super Bowl? The Vikings are absolutely one of
those teams in the NFC. This is the team that
was playing for the number one seed in Week eighteen.
Well coached, full of stars.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
Cannot wait to unveil the twenty twenty five Vikings to
all of you and away we go.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Appreciate you guys, Love you guys.
Speaker 9 (10:18):
I go to a lot of NFL training camps where
there's hope in the air and you wonder if it's genuine,
but I think it is in Minnesota for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Be sure to check out the Voyage as we release
episodes every two to three weeks on the Vikings YouTube
channel or the Vikings app. We'll be right back after
a quick break, so stick around for more, including quarterback
JJ McCarthy. But first from the field to the roof
and everywhere in between. Three m The official science partner
of the Minnesota Vikings is here. Visit Vikings dot com
(10:49):
slash school Science to learn more, Minnesota needed a go
to source for everything high school sports. That's why the
Minnesota Star Tribune created Varsity. Sign up now at startribune
dot com slash Strib Varsity. Once again, I'm your host,
Tatum Everett, and welcome back to the two Minute Warning.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Quickly.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
We want to remind you that you can catch Vikings
Country all season long here on Kfan, but if you
want to join mus and his special guests in person,
your next opportunity is this Tuesday night at the two
P one two Tavern in Cologne. It's presented by Miller
Lte and you can win lots of great prizes, including
tickets to the Miller Lite Lounge at us Thanks Stadium.
(11:31):
Check out Vikings dot com slash Vikings Country for more. Okay,
one guy who is eagerly waiting to get out there
on Monday night is starting quarterback JJ McCarthy. JJ spoke
to the media on Wednesday to share his thoughts on
what it means to open his twenty twenty five season
back in his hometown.
Speaker 11 (11:50):
Just want to say it's always a blessing to be
able to talk to you guys, and extremely thrilled for
game week. You know, I know coach Johnson and Dennis
Allen are going to have a great game plan for us.
You know, they're tremendous coaches, das you know, one of
the best defensive minds in this league. And it's going
to be, you know, a tough road environment versus a
great divisional opponent. And I can't wait to go out
(12:11):
there with the guys and be out there. So it's
gonna be a lot of fun opening up to any
questions you just.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Pick they'll do.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You got to be careful not to think too much.
In other words, you start anticipating they'll do this to
try and because they try to show me something I've
never seen before.
Speaker 9 (12:23):
Do you do You're trying not to get too caught
up in that and seeing ghosts and just see what
they've done.
Speaker 11 (12:28):
That's a great question, Max, I feel like you know
everything about the way coach O'Connell talks about playing the
quarterback position is success in the simple you know, just
following your reads, doing your job and that each end
of individual play and the rest will take care of itself.
You know, you could get you know, overthinking, you know,
is it a too hot shell? Are they going down
to one high? But at the end of the day,
if you stick to the reds and you know, do
(12:49):
your job, then it'll be a good outcome for that play.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Memory of being a soldier field.
Speaker 11 (12:56):
Earliest memory was probably I don't know how old I was,
but it was my first game and I was coming
out of the stadium and I feel like, what are
those called programs? Yeah, someone was selling the programs and
my dad was like, yeah, we got to get one.
(13:17):
You know, it's your first game, and you know, that's
you know, the first first time I was there, and
I think it was against the Vikings and the Vikings one,
so you know, it was just really cool to be
from there. But at the end of the day, it's
all about you know, executing football plays and going out
there and doing my job.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
You try to get your mind out just the moments
before you take the field, especially.
Speaker 11 (13:38):
In a game like this, I just try to be
completely present. You know, at the end of the day,
there's going to be you know, anxiousness, excitement, and you know,
a whole lot of adrenaline. But at the end of
the day, that's completely normal, and you know, accepting those emotions,
you know you're able to let go of them. A
lot quicker than trying to deflect them and avoid them.
(13:59):
So you know, I know me to be amped up,
but at the end of the day, I know that,
you know, coach O'Connell's going to put me in a
great position and my teammates around me are gonna, you know,
do everything they can to make sure we're successful each
and every play. But yeah, it's just stay present, stay
calm and centered.
Speaker 12 (14:13):
One more thing about what was that support like in
Lagrange Park growing up and what do you think it'll
be like on Monday night.
Speaker 11 (14:20):
Support was amazing, you know, just being from the Grange
Park it's really special because you know, there's not too
many guys that you know, go to the league out
of there and you know, and really a lot of sports.
But just being there and growing up there, I'm really thankful,
you know, Thankful for all the family friends down the block.
Thankful for all the schoolmates and you know, teachers and
(14:41):
everyone who helped shape me to who I am. So
a lot of gratitude and grace, but ready to go.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
One of the main targets for JJ McCarthy on Monday
Night will obviously be Justin Jefferson. Justin speaks on Thursdays,
and he previewed what he hopes to be a big
opening on a primetime stage.
Speaker 11 (15:01):
Defenses cover you differently than almost any other team in
the league.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
How has that sort of shaped your preparation.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
When you're going into a game?
Speaker 12 (15:08):
Yeah, I mean, Chell, you said a lot. You know,
just because we're really running plays for the double team.
You know, we understand that you know, some players especially,
you know, the different looks that we have, certain looks
that I'm I'm gonna get double for sure. Uh and
I'm gonna have that safe safety help over top. So
kind of understanding that, understanding how a team has been
(15:30):
playing me, especially last year. Uh, this team, you know
how they played me last year. Uh So just kind
of putting that all into understanding and realizing when you know,
other players are going to have that one on one
match up and being able to separate versus man and
whenever I'm gonna have my you know, one on one
opportunities to win and hopefully there are more than than
(15:52):
I expect. So uh, you know, just creating those opportunities
for everyone else out there on the field. But all
in all, we have a a great offense with a
with tremendous talent. So uh, it's just going out there
executing our plays fully and uh getting the ball to
the to the playmakers with.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Your hamstring fielding after the last couple of weeks of work.
Speaker 12 (16:11):
Here, Yeah, it feels great.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
You know.
Speaker 12 (16:12):
Definitely credit to you know, the training staff and the
guys uh in their training room, Uh for for really
prepping me up until this point.
Speaker 13 (16:20):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (16:20):
You know, just missing all training camp and just standing
in that training rooms. It definitely gets dark days in there. Uh,
you know, working hard and just not being with the team.
It definitely gets tough, you know, being by yourself and
competing with yourself. Uh. But you know, you got to
think about the ending result uh into you know, having
a healthy body, having a strong body to maintain a
(16:40):
full season.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (16:42):
And then of course, you know, getting back out there
with my teammates and uh, you know practicing with them
and creating that bond.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Caught in the shuffle of the season Kicking off this week,
a familiar face return to TCO Performance Center to formally
announce his retirement from the game of football. Anthony Barr
showed up on Monday afternoon with friends, family, and former
teammates in hand thank the Vikings organization for giving him
a chance to live out his childhood dream. Let's hear
from the man himself on why his time in Minnesota
(17:10):
felt so special.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
It's obviously really good to be back here.
Speaker 13 (17:14):
It's important to me to retire as a biking because
the community means so much.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
The franchise means so much.
Speaker 13 (17:19):
Franchise that changed my life coming here May twenty fourteen
as a young young boy really trying to find his
way playing the game. He loves his whole life and
got a chance to showcase his talents here. Obviously, thank
you to the organization. I will start by thanking the
Will family, specifically Ziggy and Mark. In my mind, the
(17:41):
best owners in sports. And I say that because they
while they feel the competitive team on the field year
after year, they do that with awareness and class. I
don't think any organization does it quite like the Will
family does. They are progressive, they're active in the community.
Their efforts are local, national, and global, and they've created
a culture of winning here, a culture that people want
(18:02):
to come from all all over. Free Agents loved coming here.
I know you guys. See the inter of year reviews.
The Vikings are always number one, just because of how
well this organization is ran. So a big shout out
to the to the Wilf family. I also want to
thank Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, the two people that
were playing a big influence of my coming to Minnesota,
(18:23):
drafting here, being drafted here as a ninth pick in
twenty fourteen, they entrusted me with a lot. I had
a lot of responsibility at the time. I remember actually
in April of that year, before I got drafted, I
was coming here for a top thirty visit. And this
is when we were in Eden Prairie and I was
coming from California. I was in my T shirt, my shorts,
(18:43):
and I got off the planet snow and I'm like, oh, damn,
Like this.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Place is this place is different.
Speaker 13 (18:49):
I was like, Okay, hopefully we don't come here because
I'm not trying to be dealing with the snow in April.
And then six weeks later they called it and I
was like damn. But it ended up working out. And
now I actually the snow more than I do the heat.
So that's kind of weird how that changed being a
callie boy. But now I'm like full Minnesota It's like,
where's the snow? I could bring it on. So I
do really appreciate the you know, Rick and Mike for
(19:12):
obviously give me the opportunity to play play here. I
do want to take a minute to think the folks
in the building that made my experience so special. From
the training staff to the scouting department, strength coaches, to
the equipment room, pr staff, the kitchen, the front office,
everyone in between. These are the people that kind of
make this vehicle go. You guys are the heartbeat of
(19:33):
this building. So thank you, guys for for making my
experience in the experience of so many so amazing. I
would also like to thank my mom, you know, my
biggest support, my biggest fan since I was in Pop Warner.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
She is right there.
Speaker 13 (19:48):
She's always been, you know, the loudest one of the stands,
even in Pop Warner. I remember here cheering my name
and I was like, please just don't take it down
a little bit, you know, but she was always very proud.
My grandparent obviously as well. Drive me to practice pop one.
I remember that song. Uh, I don't remember the song,
but there's a song that was playing every time you
(20:09):
drive me up that hill.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I was like it's time for practice. And uh, the
sacrifices you made to allow me to be here today.
Speaker 13 (20:16):
It kind of goes with out being said, but uh,
I love you very much and thank you for all
your all your support through all these years. And I
would also like to thank my fiance Chelsea Mothers a
beautiful woman standing right here. You know you didn't ask
for this lifestyle. You kind of came in towards the
end of my career. Uh, your wag era was was great.
I thank you. You kind of thrived. You thrived in
(20:38):
the wager. I'm sorry it was short lived, but you
were a great wag and I just thank you for
jumping in and supporting me right away. You know, you
didn't hesitate, You didn't really know what this you know
came with everything, but you were with me right when
we were in Dallas and when we came back here,
and you fit in with everybody. Everybody loves you. You're
a girl's girl. You're your ma and I love you
(21:01):
very much. And I would like to thank some of
my teammates that are here today. E k Audi Dejo,
Harry wherever he is, and Chad. You know, you guys
are my boys. Man, you guys made this experience what
it was. I think I couldn't have done this without
you guys.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I love you guys. Thanks for supporting me.
Speaker 13 (21:20):
I don't live here full time, I think my work
in the community will continue.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Raise the bar. We're very active still in this community.
Speaker 13 (21:25):
I'm trying to help single parent families and their households
achieve economic mobility as our end goal. But the Minnesota
community doesn't mean a lot. And just because I'm not
living here, it doesn't mean I will not still be
active in the community that means so much to me.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
And in closing, yeah, football has given me more than
I could.
Speaker 13 (21:41):
Have ever dreamed of means obviously for my family, but
the relationships are really kind of what stand out.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
It's really the people that make this whole thing so special.
Speaker 13 (21:50):
So thank you for everybody that I have mentioned or
I didn't mention. If I didn't mention you, I didn't
forget you. I just maybe I did forget you. But yeah,
it's been a pleasure to join an honor just to
represent the Vikings. And yeah, so thank you guys very much.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
School.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Well that's going to do it for us. In this
inaugural episode, of the two minute Warning presented by three M,
the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Reminder will
be back every Friday night right here on KFN, but
you can listen to us anytime on the audio tab
of the Vikings app, the iHeartMedia app, Apple Spotify, or
anywhere you listen to your favorite shows. Enjoy the Monday
(22:32):
night season opener between the Vikings and the Bears. Thanks
for listening.
Welcome to the premiere episode of The Two Minute Warning,
presented by three M, the official science partner of the
Minnesota Vikings. I'm your host, Tatum Everett from the Vikings
Entertainment Network, and we're excited to debut a new show
for you this week from TCO Radio Studios. Each and
every Friday will be showcasing the most important pieces of
content to get you up to speed with the latest
(00:26):
Viking news, like press conferences, one on one interviews, behind
the scenes moments, and more. As we head into the weekend,
Vikings fans have to wait a little bit longer for
their team's season opener. Minnesota travels to Chicago for Monday
Night football, so as you can imagine, it has been
a busy week. Let's kick off the show with the
leader of this Viking squad, head coach Kevin O'Connell. KAO
(00:48):
spoke with Paul Allen on Tuesday about the importance of
putting your best foot forward on the biggest stage.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
How long have you guys worked on this Bears game?
And by the way, it's great to have you back.
Good to see you again.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It's great to see you guys.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Yeah, we uh, you know, we had a really good
training camp, you know, but we you know, we started
transitioning to uh, this really good Bears team, and with
what Ben's got going on and DA on the defensive side,
we've we've tried to transition and get our work in
you know, methodically here basically since right before the Tennessee game.
(01:24):
So we've been we've been at it for a while.
You want to make sure you don't go in with
a thousand plays.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
We want to have.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
Great execution and and uh excited for our guys.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
And this is x's and no's with the Kevin O'Connell
and I'm Paul Allen, Vikings and Bears shortly after seven
o'clock on Monday night season opener, Monday Night Football Vikings
at Bears. What what are you liking about JJ McCarthy
up to the season opener?
Speaker 4 (01:47):
Yeah, I think he had a really good training camp
where there was some there was some real competitive moments.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Where he you know, he responded really well.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
The joint practice he had, you know, some some great
work there and and really kind of day over day
seeing him grow in a really quick timeline there and
then I just like the way he's handled it from
really the spring until now. But as we know it's
going to be, you know, a big moment for him.
We know that, and we want to basically surround him
(02:16):
with you know, the best guys we can in the huddle.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
We feel like we've done that.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
We feel like the other side of the ball is
going to play good football defensively for us as well
as in the kicking game. And then it's just going
to come down to a lot of really boring things
that probably don't you know, fill a lot of great time,
you know, nine to noon or in the pregame show.
But it's going to come down to you know, footwork
and and his comfort in doing the things that he's
(02:42):
done a lot now on the practice field and throughout
this offseason really since we got going in in April,
and and how consistent can he be despite you know,
it being Monday night football and a road start. We
know the place is going to be rocking there. They're
excited about their team and we're excited about ours. So
what that means is we need to make it about execution.
(03:05):
We need to make it about play style. We need
to make it about the things that we talk about
as a team. And that's got to come to life,
and if it doesn't, then you know we're gonna you know,
we didn't do a very good job preparing the team.
And I just believe that it's the Minnesota Vikings versus
the Chicago Bears. It's one of seventeen this season, it's
a divisional opponent on the road. They're very important games, obviously,
(03:28):
but I think it's it comes down to a lot
of really minute details of how comfortable all of our
guys are, not just our quarterback going in executing that,
playing fast, the physicality of it, and all the things
that makes our game so great, you know, come to
life on Monday night.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
You know, Coach O'Connell has had the season opener circled
on his calendar since this schedule came out in May,
and you can hear how much he's prepared this team
to get off to a fast start. You can check
out coach's entire interview on X's and O's earlier this week,
on YouTube, the Vikings app, or anywhere you get your
favorite audio. Since we just heard from the offensive side
(04:07):
of the ball, why don't we shift our sights to
the defense, And here from defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who's
entering his third season with the Vikings. Floyd talked about
what his team can expect when facing a new look
Bears offense led by quarterback Caleb Williams.
Speaker 5 (04:22):
You know, going to Chicago, it's going to be a
very tough environment. As you all know, it's a hard
place to play. I know that stadium is going to
be rocking. They've got a really really good football team,
explosive guys on the offensive side of the ball, and
it's going to be a big, big challenge for us.
So you know, we're just trying to string some good
days together right now, good meetings, to walk throughs and
(04:43):
good practices and you know, looking forward to Monday night.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
Though you go through the press for Ben Johnson, how
much do you lean on the lionstone from the past
versus different things?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I think, you know, first we start with, you know,
the players you know for Chicago. Obviously starting with the
quarterback Kale He's you know, poses a lot of problems,
you know with his quarterback mobility, his arm strength and
his ability to just have make the off schedule UH plays.
And then Swift in the backfield, and obviously Dj Moore
(05:16):
and Rome and you know, the tight end group and
with Loveland and Comet, so they've got a lot of
skilled players along with the old line. And then you
combine that with you know, Ben, who we know well
from Detroit, and there's some predicting, some forecasting, but you
just you know, we don't know one has a crystal ball,
so we don't know, you know, what Ben's got cooked
up or what his thought process is. I think for us,
(05:39):
it's really more about fundamentals and techniques and you know,
having good communication, really weak ones normally about that and
that's really where our focus has been. Just you know,
let's make sure we're aligned, right, you know, we we've
got you know, good hand place and good footwork, good communication,
you know, and you know, I think if we do that,
(05:59):
you know, because distantly over sixty minutes, you know, hopefully
we put ourselves in best positions.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
What makes been.
Speaker 5 (06:11):
Yeah, I mean he's I mean, what doesn't make it tough?
I mean it's the run game, it's the past game,
it's the play action game, it's the screen game.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
It's the.
Speaker 5 (06:23):
You know, gun runs, underruns, underplay action, gun play action,
I mean, anything, third down, red Zone. You know, he
does a good job of you know, putting it all together.
You know, things that look like one thing there's two, three,
four or five things out of it. So you really
it really boils down to your techniques, your fundamentals. You know,
he's done, you know, an incredible job obviously did in Detroit.
(06:44):
You know, he's one of the great football minds and
in our game, and you know it's always a challenge
to go up against him, and we we're excited. Also,
I mean it's a great environment, great atmosphere, and you
know it would be a great challenge. But between you
know the players and you know the coaching staff, you know,
certainly a big challenge.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
That was coach Brian Flores from his weekly press conference
on Thursday afternoon. You can watch the entire presser on
the Vikings YouTube channel or the Vikings app while you're there. Also,
be sure to check out the latest edition of The Voyage.
This week, they have a behind the scenes look at
Josh Mattella's signing his new deal, the trade for Adam Thielen,
and the optimism surrounding the Vikings twenty twenty five season.
(07:28):
Let's hear from members of the media on why they
think this team is ready for a breakout year.
Speaker 7 (07:33):
If I was going to describe like a vibe or
an aura of a team, this is a team of
radical optimism. There's something under the surface here and you've
got to come be here to really see it and
feel it.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Welcome back from the belly of the Vikings Beast Tco
Performance Center.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Yes, training camp is upon us.
Speaker 8 (07:54):
Minnesota has its summers, and people lean into that and
they enjoy that time. But when summer starts to kind
of feel like it's coming to a close, it does
kind of just naturally transition into football season, and I
think people attach themselves to the Vikings.
Speaker 6 (08:12):
There is nothing better, in my opinion, in covering this
team and doing this job. When you start to see
the logos around town, when you start to hear it
on the radio, and when you see the passion energy
that people have for this organization. I mean you can
really feel it for this specific training camp.
Speaker 9 (08:30):
I smell optimism, and yeah, that's what you smell every
time I come to a training camp. Vikings a team
that's just loaded with star players, loaded with potential.
Speaker 6 (08:40):
There is something different about the energy and the anticipation
for what might be possible in twenty twenty five, and.
Speaker 8 (08:46):
Prediction for this season is that the Vikings are getting.
Speaker 3 (08:49):
To go all the way super Bowl champion did.
Speaker 1 (08:51):
Do yeah, well, beating the Backs both times does the
arch Justin Jefferson.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
The Minnesota Vikings won fourteen last year. We have a
night practice tonight as we begin the reconstruction of a dream.
Speaker 8 (09:05):
There's optimism and there's excitement about something that's new.
Speaker 4 (09:08):
This is kind of that reset again where after all
of these years back, can we draft and develop that
next great franchise QB.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
This is what Kevin O'Connell's trying to do.
Speaker 1 (09:18):
This is it When he comes down those stairs, the
place is gonna go nuts.
Speaker 6 (09:22):
There are people lined up outside of this for about
an hour, like people are pumped man for this, and
it's because this can be a top three or four team.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
It's an exciting time.
Speaker 10 (09:31):
Man. Let me tell you something. This football team is
having a great camp. Great camp right here.
Speaker 7 (09:37):
I question every year white people are still sleeping on
the Vikings. But they might like it that way because
you turn your back on them for one second and
they're running right past you.
Speaker 10 (09:47):
But I have to say this year just kind of
feels different.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
I think you're gonna be very proud of this team
this year.
Speaker 10 (09:52):
We're gonna get ready to go to work at Monday
night football at Chicago. It's gonna come here before.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
You know it self.
Speaker 9 (09:58):
Does said does an have for the teams that can
win the Super Bowl? The Vikings are absolutely one of
those teams in the NFC. This is the team that
was playing for the number one seed in Week eighteen.
Well coached, full of stars.
Speaker 10 (10:11):
Cannot wait to unveil the twenty twenty five Vikings to
all of you and away we go.
Speaker 4 (10:16):
Appreciate you guys, Love you guys.
Speaker 9 (10:18):
I go to a lot of NFL training camps where
there's hope in the air and you wonder if it's genuine,
but I think it is in Minnesota for sure.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
Be sure to check out the Voyage as we release
episodes every two to three weeks on the Vikings YouTube
channel or the Vikings app. We'll be right back after
a quick break, so stick around for more, including quarterback
JJ McCarthy. But first from the field to the roof
and everywhere in between. Three m The official science partner
of the Minnesota Vikings is here. Visit Vikings dot com
(10:49):
slash school Science to learn more, Minnesota needed a go
to source for everything high school sports. That's why the
Minnesota Star Tribune created Varsity. Sign up now at startribune
dot com slash Strib Varsity. Once again, I'm your host,
Tatum Everett, and welcome back to the two Minute Warning.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Quickly.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
We want to remind you that you can catch Vikings
Country all season long here on Kfan, but if you
want to join mus and his special guests in person,
your next opportunity is this Tuesday night at the two
P one two Tavern in Cologne. It's presented by Miller
Lte and you can win lots of great prizes, including
tickets to the Miller Lite Lounge at us Thanks Stadium.
(11:31):
Check out Vikings dot com slash Vikings Country for more. Okay,
one guy who is eagerly waiting to get out there
on Monday night is starting quarterback JJ McCarthy. JJ spoke
to the media on Wednesday to share his thoughts on
what it means to open his twenty twenty five season
back in his hometown.
Speaker 11 (11:50):
Just want to say it's always a blessing to be
able to talk to you guys, and extremely thrilled for
game week. You know, I know coach Johnson and Dennis
Allen are going to have a great game plan for us.
You know, they're tremendous coaches, das you know, one of
the best defensive minds in this league. And it's going
to be, you know, a tough road environment versus a
great divisional opponent. And I can't wait to go out
(12:11):
there with the guys and be out there. So it's
gonna be a lot of fun opening up to any
questions you just.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Pick they'll do.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You got to be careful not to think too much.
In other words, you start anticipating they'll do this to
try and because they try to show me something I've
never seen before.
Speaker 9 (12:23):
Do you do You're trying not to get too caught
up in that and seeing ghosts and just see what
they've done.
Speaker 11 (12:28):
That's a great question, Max, I feel like you know
everything about the way coach O'Connell talks about playing the
quarterback position is success in the simple you know, just
following your reads, doing your job and that each end
of individual play and the rest will take care of itself.
You know, you could get you know, overthinking, you know,
is it a too hot shell? Are they going down
to one high? But at the end of the day,
if you stick to the reds and you know, do
(12:49):
your job, then it'll be a good outcome for that play.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Memory of being a soldier field.
Speaker 11 (12:56):
Earliest memory was probably I don't know how old I was,
but it was my first game and I was coming
out of the stadium and I feel like, what are
those called programs? Yeah, someone was selling the programs and
my dad was like, yeah, we got to get one.
(13:17):
You know, it's your first game, and you know, that's
you know, the first first time I was there, and
I think it was against the Vikings and the Vikings one,
so you know, it was just really cool to be
from there. But at the end of the day, it's
all about you know, executing football plays and going out
there and doing my job.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
You try to get your mind out just the moments
before you take the field, especially.
Speaker 11 (13:38):
In a game like this, I just try to be
completely present. You know, at the end of the day,
there's going to be you know, anxiousness, excitement, and you know,
a whole lot of adrenaline. But at the end of
the day, that's completely normal, and you know, accepting those emotions,
you know you're able to let go of them. A
lot quicker than trying to deflect them and avoid them.
(13:59):
So you know, I know me to be amped up,
but at the end of the day, I know that,
you know, coach O'Connell's going to put me in a
great position and my teammates around me are gonna, you know,
do everything they can to make sure we're successful each
and every play. But yeah, it's just stay present, stay
calm and centered.
Speaker 12 (14:13):
One more thing about what was that support like in
Lagrange Park growing up and what do you think it'll
be like on Monday night.
Speaker 11 (14:20):
Support was amazing, you know, just being from the Grange
Park it's really special because you know, there's not too
many guys that you know, go to the league out
of there and you know, and really a lot of sports.
But just being there and growing up there, I'm really thankful,
you know, Thankful for all the family friends down the block.
Thankful for all the schoolmates and you know, teachers and
(14:41):
everyone who helped shape me to who I am. So
a lot of gratitude and grace, but ready to go.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
One of the main targets for JJ McCarthy on Monday
Night will obviously be Justin Jefferson. Justin speaks on Thursdays,
and he previewed what he hopes to be a big
opening on a primetime stage.
Speaker 11 (15:01):
Defenses cover you differently than almost any other team in
the league.
Speaker 9 (15:05):
How has that sort of shaped your preparation.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
When you're going into a game?
Speaker 12 (15:08):
Yeah, I mean, Chell, you said a lot. You know,
just because we're really running plays for the double team.
You know, we understand that you know, some players especially,
you know, the different looks that we have, certain looks
that I'm I'm gonna get double for sure. Uh and
I'm gonna have that safe safety help over top. So
kind of understanding that, understanding how a team has been
(15:30):
playing me, especially last year. Uh, this team, you know
how they played me last year. Uh So just kind
of putting that all into understanding and realizing when you know,
other players are going to have that one on one
match up and being able to separate versus man and
whenever I'm gonna have my you know, one on one
opportunities to win and hopefully there are more than than
(15:52):
I expect. So uh, you know, just creating those opportunities
for everyone else out there on the field. But all
in all, we have a a great offense with a
with tremendous talent. So uh, it's just going out there
executing our plays fully and uh getting the ball to
the to the playmakers with.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Your hamstring fielding after the last couple of weeks of work.
Speaker 12 (16:11):
Here, Yeah, it feels great.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
You know.
Speaker 12 (16:12):
Definitely credit to you know, the training staff and the
guys uh in their training room, Uh for for really
prepping me up until this point.
Speaker 13 (16:20):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (16:20):
You know, just missing all training camp and just standing
in that training rooms. It definitely gets dark days in there. Uh,
you know, working hard and just not being with the team.
It definitely gets tough, you know, being by yourself and
competing with yourself. Uh. But you know, you got to
think about the ending result uh into you know, having
a healthy body, having a strong body to maintain a
(16:40):
full season.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
Uh.
Speaker 12 (16:42):
And then of course, you know, getting back out there
with my teammates and uh, you know practicing with them
and creating that bond.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Caught in the shuffle of the season Kicking off this week,
a familiar face return to TCO Performance Center to formally
announce his retirement from the game of football. Anthony Barr
showed up on Monday afternoon with friends, family, and former
teammates in hand thank the Vikings organization for giving him
a chance to live out his childhood dream. Let's hear
from the man himself on why his time in Minnesota
(17:10):
felt so special.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
It's obviously really good to be back here.
Speaker 13 (17:14):
It's important to me to retire as a biking because
the community means so much.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
The franchise means so much.
Speaker 13 (17:19):
Franchise that changed my life coming here May twenty fourteen
as a young young boy really trying to find his
way playing the game. He loves his whole life and
got a chance to showcase his talents here. Obviously, thank
you to the organization. I will start by thanking the
Will family, specifically Ziggy and Mark. In my mind, the
(17:41):
best owners in sports. And I say that because they
while they feel the competitive team on the field year
after year, they do that with awareness and class. I
don't think any organization does it quite like the Will
family does. They are progressive, they're active in the community.
Their efforts are local, national, and global, and they've created
a culture of winning here, a culture that people want
(18:02):
to come from all all over. Free Agents loved coming here.
I know you guys. See the inter of year reviews.
The Vikings are always number one, just because of how
well this organization is ran. So a big shout out
to the to the Wilf family. I also want to
thank Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman, the two people that
were playing a big influence of my coming to Minnesota,
(18:23):
drafting here, being drafted here as a ninth pick in
twenty fourteen, they entrusted me with a lot. I had
a lot of responsibility at the time. I remember actually
in April of that year, before I got drafted, I
was coming here for a top thirty visit. And this
is when we were in Eden Prairie and I was
coming from California. I was in my T shirt, my shorts,
(18:43):
and I got off the planet snow and I'm like, oh, damn,
Like this.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
Place is this place is different.
Speaker 13 (18:49):
I was like, Okay, hopefully we don't come here because
I'm not trying to be dealing with the snow in April.
And then six weeks later they called it and I
was like damn. But it ended up working out. And
now I actually the snow more than I do the heat.
So that's kind of weird how that changed being a
callie boy. But now I'm like full Minnesota It's like,
where's the snow? I could bring it on. So I
do really appreciate the you know, Rick and Mike for
(19:12):
obviously give me the opportunity to play play here. I
do want to take a minute to think the folks
in the building that made my experience so special. From
the training staff to the scouting department, strength coaches, to
the equipment room, pr staff, the kitchen, the front office,
everyone in between. These are the people that kind of
make this vehicle go. You guys are the heartbeat of
(19:33):
this building. So thank you, guys for for making my
experience in the experience of so many so amazing. I
would also like to thank my mom, you know, my
biggest support, my biggest fan since I was in Pop Warner.
Speaker 3 (19:46):
She is right there.
Speaker 13 (19:48):
She's always been, you know, the loudest one of the stands,
even in Pop Warner. I remember here cheering my name
and I was like, please just don't take it down
a little bit, you know, but she was always very proud.
My grandparent obviously as well. Drive me to practice pop one.
I remember that song. Uh, I don't remember the song,
but there's a song that was playing every time you
(20:09):
drive me up that hill.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
I was like it's time for practice. And uh, the
sacrifices you made to allow me to be here today.
Speaker 13 (20:16):
It kind of goes with out being said, but uh,
I love you very much and thank you for all
your all your support through all these years. And I
would also like to thank my fiance Chelsea Mothers a
beautiful woman standing right here. You know you didn't ask
for this lifestyle. You kind of came in towards the
end of my career. Uh, your wag era was was great.
I thank you. You kind of thrived. You thrived in
(20:38):
the wager. I'm sorry it was short lived, but you
were a great wag and I just thank you for
jumping in and supporting me right away. You know, you
didn't hesitate, You didn't really know what this you know
came with everything, but you were with me right when
we were in Dallas and when we came back here,
and you fit in with everybody. Everybody loves you. You're
a girl's girl. You're your ma and I love you
(21:01):
very much. And I would like to thank some of
my teammates that are here today. E k Audi Dejo,
Harry wherever he is, and Chad. You know, you guys
are my boys. Man, you guys made this experience what
it was. I think I couldn't have done this without
you guys.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
I love you guys. Thanks for supporting me.
Speaker 13 (21:20):
I don't live here full time, I think my work
in the community will continue.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Raise the bar. We're very active still in this community.
Speaker 13 (21:25):
I'm trying to help single parent families and their households
achieve economic mobility as our end goal. But the Minnesota
community doesn't mean a lot. And just because I'm not
living here, it doesn't mean I will not still be
active in the community that means so much to me.
Speaker 3 (21:39):
And in closing, yeah, football has given me more than
I could.
Speaker 13 (21:41):
Have ever dreamed of means obviously for my family, but
the relationships are really kind of what stand out.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
It's really the people that make this whole thing so special.
Speaker 13 (21:50):
So thank you for everybody that I have mentioned or
I didn't mention. If I didn't mention you, I didn't
forget you. I just maybe I did forget you. But yeah,
it's been a pleasure to join an honor just to
represent the Vikings. And yeah, so thank you guys very much.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
School.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
Well that's going to do it for us. In this
inaugural episode, of the two minute Warning presented by three M,
the official science partner of the Minnesota Vikings. Reminder will
be back every Friday night right here on KFN, but
you can listen to us anytime on the audio tab
of the Vikings app, the iHeartMedia app, Apple Spotify, or
anywhere you listen to your favorite shows. Enjoy the Monday
(22:32):
night season opener between the Vikings and the Bears. Thanks
for listening.
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