J.J. McCarthy. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: J.J. McCarthy declines call from Wayne Gretzky during interview

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 4/27/24

J.J. McCarthy’s first meeting with the Minnesota media forced him to decline a call he would have probably preferred to take.

The new Vikings quarterback met virtually with the media on Saturday for the first time, but he had to decline a call in the middle of his availability. That call was from none other than Wayne Gretzky, which McCarthy noted.

J.J. McCarthy declined a call from Wayne Gretzky while on his first Vikings media interview pic.twitter.com/pDFo7Lj0IT

— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) April 27, 2024

“Oh, wow, that’s Wayne Gretzky. I’m sorry about that,” McCarthy said as he declined the call. “Hockey guy one-on-one and going to the hockey state.”

McCarthy grew up playing hockey as well as football, so the importance of the call was not lost on him. The quarterback explained that his marketing agent is good friends with Gretzky, and he connected the two shortly after McCarthy and the Michigan Wolverines won the national championship in January.

Gretzky will probably understand why McCarthy had to delay their post-draft chat. At least the young quarterback has his priorities straight as far as his media responsibilities. It probably beats the Jacksonville Jaguars’ experience with Trevor Lawrence, at least.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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