With a 4-7 record, the Minnesota Vikings and head coach Kevin O’Connell haven’t had the season they hoped for. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy still hasn’t shown consistent NFL-level play, throwing 10 interceptions in just 6 games. And as the team fights to stay alive in the playoff race, O’Connell is now hearing from another quarterback prospect.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson has shown interest in joining a team that has an offense similar to the Vikings.

“O’Connell also has respect for Richardson, who could be the next reclamation QB to thrive elsewhere,” Jeremy Fowler wrote in his article. “Richardson has interest in playing for a coach from the Sean McVay tree, either the man himself or a disciple like O’Connell.”

The Vikings have a balanced offense with some of the best receivers, such as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Richardson might be able to give the Vikings the boost needed if he is teamed up with the WRs. This comes as McCarthy continues to struggle.

The team is already in talks to secure a QB for 2026. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones has also been mentioned in recent rumors. However, Anthony Richardson, who lost the starting job to Daniel Jones, might be a better fit. The Colts, who are thriving with Jones, might also be open to dealing Richardson to another team.

Richardson, who will earn $34 million over his rookie contract, hasn’t been able to make an impact in the league. So far, he has only 9 passing yards with 0 touchdowns and 0 interceptions this season. Still, he could succeed if he lands in the right system.

Perhaps that’s why he’s looking for an offense similar to Kevin O’Connell’s. Another reason could be his previous interaction with O’Connell last year. After the Vikings’ 21-13 win over the Colts on November 13, O’Connell shared a powerful message with him.

“Do me a favor and remember something,” O’Connell said. “You’re a bad dude. And you’re going to play for a long time, in this league. Go to work every day. Good things will happen for you. I still believe in you. I know these guys do. Shane does, too.”

Richardson later said in an interview that the message was special to him. Maybe he can bring the spark back to the Vikings. Thanks to his experience in the league, he’s unlikely to struggle the way J.J. McCarthy has.

The Vikings got called out for J.J. McCarthy’s inconsistency

It’s almost puzzling how McCarthy has struggled and been unable to develop as a top-level QB since he was selected 10th overall by the Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft. There are clear issues with his performance, but Mike Florio pointed out that the Vikings might also have a role in that.

He explained that the Vikings may have made a mistake by bringing McCarthy despite his lack of college experience. McCarthy averaged a pass attempt of 22.13 per game in 2023.

“Drafting McCarthy was the Vikings’ first apparent mistake. The second mistake came from not having an effective plan for the dramatically-changed circumstances after the 2024 season,” he wrote.

Florio added that the immense pressure placed on the QB didn’t allow him to develop properly. It didn’t help that McCarthy missed his entire rookie year after injuring his knee in his only preseason game. On top of losing his rookie season, he also missed valuable reps that were supposed to help him understand the league better.

And now, it seems this season is also slipping away from his hands as he continues to deal with injuries.