JJ McCarthy and HS sweetheart fiancee made major announcement just after his first NFL start
JJ McCarthy has been with his partner throughout his football career from winning a national championship with Michigan to becoming a first round draft pick with the Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy is engaged to his high school sweetheart(Image: @katyakuropas/Instagram)
JJ McCarthy has gone through a rollercoaster first 18 months in the NFL since winning the national championship, with his long-term partner by his side throughout.
After surprisingly being drafted as high as the 10th overall pick in the 2024 Draft to the Minnesota Vikings, following his championship-winning final year in college with Michigan, McCarthy’s career in the NFL did not start the way he’d have hoped. He tore his meniscus in his right knee, meaning he’d be out for the entire season with Sam Darnold starring for the team.
The Vikings then put a lot of hope into McCarthy in letting Darnold leave for the Seattle Seahawks, naming him as their starter and captain heading into the season – while welcoming his first child with fiancee Katya Kuropas just days after his first start and win in the NFL.
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McCarthy led the Vikings to a comeback win over the Chicago Bears in Week One in what was his first NFL game, answering a lot of doubts after a shaky start.
And two days later, he and Kuropas announced the birth of their son, Rome.
McCarthy and Kuropas are high school sweethearts, since meeting at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park and remaining together throughout their time at Michigan.
McCarthy and his wife welcomed their first child earlier this season(Image: @katyakuropas/Instagram)
They became engaged in January 2024, after McCarthy won the National Championship over Washington with Jim Harbaugh as head coach.
Speaking of his fiancee, McCarthy wrote on his Instagram on her birthday: “She’s my everything – my muse, my rock, and the heart of my universe,” he wrote. “For what is a flame without its wick. A Viking without a star to guide him. Thank you forever, my love, for never wavering when the inevitable storms arise on our voyage together.”
The two have been dating since 2018, with Kuropas regularly attending his games at the high school, college and NFL level.
McCarthy’s first full season starting has certainly continued to be up-and-down, still throwing more interceptions than touchdowns at this point.
J.J. McCarthy has had an up-and-down season
But his most recent performance might have been one of his best in a win over the Washington Commanders.
He completed 16-of-23 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns for no interceptions. McCarthy needs to continue in this form if he is to convince the team that he is their long-term answer.
The Vikings will not make the playoffs this season and will have opportunities to bring in another quarterback this offseason.
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