New York Giants quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been reunited with his wife, Katya, and their 1-year-old son, Rome, as the team heads into its bye week. McCarthy, who left his family in Minneapolis to join the Giants in late September, expressed his gratitude for their presence as he settles into his new role.
"The true reason why you do it is for your loved ones," McCarthy told The Post. "Every time you go home and you see your kid and you see your wife, you realize the bigger purpose."
His wife and son have now moved into their New Jersey apartment and will be with him for the remainder of the season. McCarthy, 23, is preparing for his second start with the Giants, following a sensational debut where he completed 20 of 28 passes for 252 yards without any turnovers against the Houston Texans. This performance helped maintain the Giants' position atop the NFC East.
McCarthy acknowledged that the bye week came at an opportune moment. "I definitely feel caught up completely with our offense and the intent behind every single play," he said. "And that’s a credit to all the guys in the room with me, all the coaches, and everyone on this team."
Coach John Harbaugh confirmed McCarthy's progress. "He’ll be as fully prepared as any quarterback at this stage," Harbaugh stated. McCarthy, who had a 27-1 record as a starter at Michigan, is accustomed to challenging environments and is looking forward to his first NFL game at Lincoln Financial Field against the rival Philadelphia Eagles.
"I’m definitely honored to be a New York Football Giant and everything that comes with it, this division, these rivalry games," McCarthy said. "Yeah, it’s going to be a lot of fun."
McCarthy's wife, Katya, has been a constant source of support throughout his career. "We’ve gone through a lot these last 2 ½ years and we’ve learned a lot together and grew a lot together," he said. "It’s exciting to get into a routine and hit this thing running. It fills your heart in the best way."
The Giants (4-2-1) are scheduled to face the Eagles (2-6) on Sunday, looking to extend their success despite a 13-game losing streak at Lincoln Financial Field.