Vikings Quarterback J.J. McCarthy Plays Just Days After Son’s Birth

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was back on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday night, September 14, just days after welcoming his newborn son with fiancée Katya Kuropas.

The couple announced the arrival of their son, Rome, on Friday, September 12.

“Welcome to the world Rome Micah McCarthy ,” Kuropas wrote via Instagram. “The sweetest, most perfect gift from God!! We are so unbelievably blessed to be your parents .”

McCarthy, 22, arrived at the stadium in an all-black ensemble ahead of the Vikings’ Sunday Night Football showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.

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The quarterback was present at the Vikings’ facility on Thursday, September 11, but left early for the hospital as he prepared to welcome the newborn, head coach Kevin O’Connell told the media. O’Connell, 40, added he was “pumped” to share the news.

The couple first announced they were expecting a baby in May, sharing a joint Instagram post showing off Kuropas’ baby bump.

“The best surprises come when you least expect them,” they captioned the carousel. “Our sweet baby boy is arriving in September and we couldn’t be happier.”

McCarthy’s teammate, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, offered a lighthearted congratulations to the new father.

“If you’re seeing this now, congratulations, my boy. I’m excited for [you] with this new chapter,” Jefferson told the Star Tribune in a story published Wednesday, September 10. “But after you get done, come on back.”

McCarthy and Kuropas met in high school at Nazareth Academy and maintained their relationship after the quarterback transferred to IMG Academy. He proposed to her weeks after he won the 2023 national championship with the Michigan Wolverines.

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The two announced their engagement via Instagram in January 2024, sharing a photo of the two of them with their dog, Marley.

“Me, You & Marley Forever & Ever,” they wrote in the caption.

On the field, McCarthy is coming off the first start of his professional career in Week 1 against the Chicago Bears. He missed all of 2024, his rookie season, with a torn meniscus.

“I think it’s been 609 days, I think I saw since my last competitive football game [at Michigan], which was the national championship,” he said after the game. “So, it’s been a while of being just in the training room, watching a lot of film, learning the playbook and trying to master that. At the end of the day, it’s such a blessing to be an NFL football player and play in this league.”