J.J. McCarthy to Wear No. 18 for Giants After Vikings Trade

J.J. McCarthy, recently acquired by the New York Giants in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings, will wear No. 18 for his new team. McCarthy previously wore No. 9 for the Giants, a number that had become associated with him, particularly after he discussed an on-field alter ego he called 'Nine.' Tight end Isaiah Likely currently holds No. 9.

Mccarthy, 24, enters his second NFL opportunity after being a 10th overall draft pick. He missed his intended rookie season in 2024 due to injury and played in 2025, finishing with a 6-4 record. During that season, he dealt with an ankle sprain and a fractured right hand, throwing for 11 touchdowns against 12 interceptions with a 57.6 completion percentage and a quarterback rating of 72.6, which was the lowest among 33 qualified quarterbacks.

His situation in Minnesota shifted when the Vikings acquired Kyler Murray, making McCarthy the third-string quarterback behind Carson Wentz. The Giants, meanwhile, sought to bolster their quarterback depth following a season-ending knee injury to Jaxson Dart in Week 2.

Giants head coach John Harbaugh expressed enthusiasm for the addition, stating, "I think he’s a strong young quarterback… very talented player and he’s gonna make us a stronger football team. I think it makes us better." Harbaugh acknowledged McCarthy's talent as a former top-10 pick but noted his availability stemmed from not retaining a starting job in Minnesota.

For now, Jameis Winston remains the Giants' starting quarterback. The team will determine whether McCarthy or Jake Haener will serve as the backup for their upcoming game against the Cardinals.