Former NFL head coach and New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett believes a change of scenery has unlocked something for quarterback J.J. McCarthy that never fully materialized in Minnesota.

Speaking on the Dan Patrick Show, Garrett pointed to the value of a clean slate after the Giants acquired the 2024 first-round pick from the Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round selection.

“Sometimes it’s about a clean slate,” Garrett said. “Oftentimes these guys go to a place where there’s a lot of expectation, and it doesn’t work out right at the outset. They can never get out from under that experience, and it just kind of builds on itself. People outside the building start saying, ‘We picked the wrong guy.’ Then people in the building start looking around, wondering if they have the right guy. Maybe inside, you don’t feel the belief around you that helps you grow and develop like you need to.”

That dynamic can stall a young quarterback who has not logged extensive snaps at the professional level. McCarthy entered the league as the 10th overall selection and faced the typical early struggles that accompany the position.

Garrett noted how rare it is for any rookie signal-caller to dominate immediately, emphasizing that nearly all of them absorb lumps before finding their footing.

The trade to New York altered the equation.

“Then someone says, ‘Hey, we want you. We’re trading for you. We need you.’ You go to that new place, and it’s fresh and clean, and there’s a history there,” Garrett explained.

He referenced the familial connection, noting that Jim Harbaugh coached McCarthy to a national title at Michigan while John Harbaugh now leads the Giants and is positioned to play to the quarterback’s strengths.

“You feel new life,” Garrett said.

Garrett also stressed the developmental upside that comes with reflection. Young passers often identify areas for improvement—decision-making, processing speed, ball placement—once removed from the initial environment.

In New York, McCarthy has been embraced rather than scrutinized as a potential miss, allowing him to apply those lessons. The early returns suggest the fit is working, giving the Giants a mobile, athletic option who aligns with the offense they prefer to run.