JJ McCarthy’s inaugural press meeting with the Minnesota media was momentarily interrupted by an unexpected call that he regretfully had to decline.
During the virtual session on Saturday, the new Vikings quarterback found himself apologizing as he dismissed a call from none other than Wayne Gretzky.
“Wow, that’s Wayne Gretzky. I’m sorry about that,” McCarthy remarked as he handled the interruption. “Hockey guy one-on-one and coming to the hockey state.”
Having grown up playing both hockey and football, McCarthy clearly understood the significance of the missed call.
He revealed that his marketing agent, a close friend of Gretzky, facilitated the connection shortly after McCarthy and the Michigan Wolverines secured the national championship in January.
While Gretzky might appreciate the delay in their post-draft conversation, McCarthy showed admirable dedication to his media obligations.
Compared to the Jacksonville Jaguars’ experience with Trevor Lawrence, McCarthy’s handling of the situation reflects a strong sense of professionalism and responsibility.
