Why Giants see J.J. McCarthy as ‘an easy guy to get behind’ after gem in Houston

J.J. McCarthy handled himself nicely in Houston.

By Darryl Slater · NJ.com

Published: Monday, 26 October 2026 at 11:30 AM

Key Things to Know

J.J. McCarthy demonstrated strong resilience and leadership while winning his first start with the New York Giants.
The New York Giants defeated the Houston Texans 27-21 in overtime as 10.5-point underdogs.
Head coach John Harbaugh praised McCarthy's ability to bounce back after being benched and traded by Minnesota.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy earned high praise from head coach John Harbaugh and teammates after leading the New York Giants to a 27-21 overtime win against the Houston Texans on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Making his first start for the franchise after being acquired via trade less than a month earlier, McCarthy guided the underdog Giants to victory.

The win moved the Giants to 4-2-1 atop the NFC East heading into their bye week, despite season-ending injuries to quarterback Jaxson Dart and defenders Brian Burns and Tremaine Edmunds. Harbaugh lauded McCarthy's resilience after his turbulent early-career stint with the Minnesota Vikings, stating that "failure is not final."

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Why Giants see J.J. McCarthy as ‘an easy guy to get behind’ after gem in Houston

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