It was a picture-perfect moment for J.J. McCarthy. Or perhaps it was really just Nine?
But regardless of whether it was McCarthy or his alter ego directing the signal caller’s body for the Vikings on Sunday night against the Cowboys, you couldn’t have drawn up his second-quarter touchdown run to look any prettier. With Dallas leading 14-7 and nine minutes left to play before the halftime break, the Vikings had the ball on 4th & Goal on the Cowboys’ one-yard line.
Minnesota rolled out their offense to go for the tie, and when the ball was snapped, McCarthy faked a hand-off to his running back up the middle, which the entire defense committed to. It was only far too late that they realized that when McCarthy hit a wide arc on a bootleg out of the pocket to the opposite side of the field, he secretly still had the ball in his hands. And by the time the trickery was discovered, there was nothing the Cowboys could do but watch as McCarthy quite literally danced into the end zone for the touchdown – hitting the viral TikTok celebration known as the Griddy, popularized in the NFL by Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. You can watch footage of the touchdown below.
JJ MCCARTHY HIT THE PEYTON MANNING FAKE & GRIDDY’D ALL OVER THE COWBOYS
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 15, 2025
McCarthy looked to be back in a more efficient form on Sunday night, going 8-of-13 passing for one touchdown and one interception and recording two rushes for eight yards and one touchdown. The Cowboys led the Vikings 23-17 as of the time this article was written. And Vikings fans will be hoping this version of McCarthy sticks around after his early-season struggles.
The internet had a field day reacting to the viral moment from McCarthy, who had already garnered plenty of viral attention earlier this season for discussing his on-field alter ego ‘Nine’ during an interview. Check out a few of the best responses to McCarthy’s fun touchdown celebration below.
Justin Jefferson watching JJ McCarthy griddy into the end zone pic.twitter.com/rO91RGNzyA
— Chris (@CashItChris7) December 15, 2025
I am a cowboys fan but I will admit mccarthy griddying into the end zone after successfully faking out our whole defense was nasty
— Presley Tene’t (@PresAbercrombie) December 15, 2025
JJ MCCARTHY AURA FARMING GRIDDY OMFG HAHAHAHAHA
— Cam (@42Cyc) December 15, 2025
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: J.J. McCarthy shows off dance skills, does Griddy into end zone for TD
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