MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Three days after falling in the NFC Championship Game for the fourth straight year, the Minnesota Vikings returned to TCO Performance Center for locker room cleanout day. The sting of their 45-27 loss to the Chicago Bears still hung in the air as players packed up gear and faced questions about another near-miss season.
“This one hurts more,” admitted quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns in the snow at Soldier Field. “We’ve climbed the ladder each year, but the final rung keeps slipping away. I still believe our time is coming.”
McCarthy led the league in passing for the second year in a row, finishing the regular season with 4,535 yards and 36 touchdowns. He was once again the centerpiece of a high-octane Vikings offense that featured explosive weapons like Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, and James Cook—who scored twice in the NFC title game and had 115 total yards.
But while the offense shined, the defense had trouble stopping Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, who threw for 374 yards and five total touchdowns. The Vikings allowed 45 points for the second straight postseason game, a trend that raised questions heading into the offseason.
“There’s no excuses,” said head coach Kevin O’Connell. “We didn’t execute in critical moments. We’re built to win now. Falling short again? That’s on me.”
Veteran voices like Brian O’Neill and Mekhi Blackmon were among those facing uncertain futures as contract negotiations loom. O’Connell expressed his desire to keep the core intact, but acknowledged that change is inevitable.
The Vikings finish Season 32 with a 12-7 overall record and another deep playoff run—but the franchise remains haunted by its inability to break through on championship weekend. Still, McCarthy believes the group remains close.
“It’s not a rebuild, it’s a reload,” he said. “As long as we stay together and stay hungry, we’re going to get there.”
