Sports News Report
League: NFLSport: FootballCountry: United StatesCategory: Scores & Results

Steve Smith Sr. critiques Vikings' QB competition ahead of season

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 5:30 PM

Last updated Jun 2, 2026

Steve Smith Sr. critiques Vikings' QB competition ahead of season
Summary

Steve Smith Sr. expressed strong criticism of the Minnesota Vikings' quarterback battle featuring Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy during an appearance on ESPN's Get Up. Smith questioned the abilities of both quarterbacks, suggesting McCarthy could be easily outperformed and that Murray needs to focus more on his playbook. The Vikings are looking to improve after a disappointing 2025 season and will face the Carolina Panthers in Week 13. Smith's remarks come as part of ongoing discussions about Minnesota's path forward at the quarterback position, which has struggled since the departure of Sam Darnold.

Source Links
Yahoo Sports
By the Numbers
  • •Steve Smith Sr. on ESPN criticized Vikings QBs Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy.
  • •Smith stated anyone could outperform McCarthy in a competition.
  • •He encouraged Murray to focus more on football than on gaming.
  • •The Panthers will face the Vikings in Week 13 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
  • •Minnesota is looking to recover after a 9-8 record in 2025.
Latest Updates
  • 5:30 PMYahoo Sports — Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. savagely rips Vikings' QB competition
What they're saying
"

Vikings QBs Kyler Murray and J.J. McCarthy may both need to ice up after what Panthers great Steve Smith Sr. had to say about their competition.

Related Teams & Leagues
Minnesota VikingsCarolina PanthersNFLFootball

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days