Home » Sports » NFL » New York Giants

Why the Giants are handing J.J. McCarthy the keys to their offense

The Giants got an opportunity to glimpse McCarthy’s command of an offense last Sunday against the Saints. Now they trust him to start.

By Charlotte Carroll · The Athletic

Published: Friday, 23 October 2026 at 10:00 AM

Key Things to Know

The New York Giants benched Jameis Winston to name J.J. McCarthy as their starting quarterback.
McCarthy earned the role after passing for 243 yards across three fourth-quarter scoring drives in a 34-27 loss.
The 23-year-old quarterback joined the Giants via trade from the Minnesota Vikings on September 28.

The Story in 60 Seconds

The New York Giants have named quarterback J.J. McCarthy as their new starter, benching veteran Jameis Winston. Head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy made the switch after McCarthy impressed during a fourth-quarter relief appearance against the New Orleans Saints. McCarthy threw for 243 yards and led three scoring drives in a 34-27 loss, showing rapid progress with the playbook.

McCarthy joined the Giants in a September 28 trade from the Minnesota Vikings following a season-ending injury to starter Jaxson Dart. After mastering the offensive scheme, Nagy confirmed the call sheet will be 100 percent open for McCarthy's first start since the 2025 season.

Read the full article on The Athletic

Why the Giants are handing J.J. McCarthy the keys to their offense

More New York Giants News

Never Miss a Sports Update