Vikings’ Josh McCown: From Backup QB to Rising Coaching Star
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Vikings’ Josh McCown: From Backup QB to Rising Coaching Star

In just his first full season as an NFL assistant coach, Josh McCown is already drawing attention as a rising star in the profession. The longtime journeyman quarterback, who played for a record 12 different franchises during his 18-year career, has found quick success in his new role as the quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings.

Mentoring Darnold to MVP-Level Play

McCown’s biggest impact has come in his work with starting QB Sam Darnold, who is putting together a career year under McCown’s tutelage. Their relationship dates back to 2018, when they were teammates with the New York Jets.

“He’s been great, just the way that we’ve been able to learn the system together,” Darnold said of McCown. “Talk about the system and grow in it at the same time. It’s been a great journey so far.”

– Sam Darnold on Josh McCown

Daily Mechanics Drills

One way McCown has helped Darnold and the other Vikings quarterbacks improve is by instituting daily 45-minute on-field sessions after practice to review mechanics and progressions. The extra reps have clearly paid off, with Darnold playing the best football of his career.

Soaking Up the Scheme

At the same time, McCown acknowledges he still has plenty to learn in Minnesota’s offensive system under head coach Kevin O’Connell and coordinator Wes Phillips. He said it’s been “very hard at times” to keep up with their advanced concepts.

“That’s what’s been great for me. It’s been very hard at times, if I’m being candid, because these guys think of everything. And so that’s been great learning for me. I tell Kevin all the time that it can be intimidating to be around him, just because of how smart he is.”

– Josh McCown on learning from Kevin O’Connell

Next Steps for McCown

With the Vikings sitting at 12-2 and Darnold playing at an MVP level, McCown will undoubtedly draw interest for offensive coordinator openings this coming offseason. But he insists his focus is on the present in Minnesota, however long that lasts.

“I love it here and I love the guys I’m around. And I think I’m just scratching the surface of, for me, really learning how to coach in this system. And so my focus is just getting better at that, and then whatever happens down the road happens. But I just want to stay present with it.”

– Josh McCown on his coaching future

Based on the early returns, that future looks very bright for the former backup quarterback turned rising coaching commodity. The Josh McCown coaching pipeline may be just beginning in Minnesota.