Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and fiancee Katya welcome son Rome Micah

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy and his fiancee, Katya, announced the birth of their son, Rome Micah McCarthy, on Friday. Katya posted images from the hospital on Instagram and called the newborn "the sweetest, most perfect gift from God." McCarthy replied to the post in the comments, writing, "& so are you my love. God is GREAT!"

The couple, who met in high school and have been engaged since January 2024, revealed in May that they were expecting a baby boy. The quarterback's absence from practice on Thursday had signaled the birth was imminent. Katya's Instagram post included four images taken in the hospital, one showing McCarthy holding the infant while looking at him.

McCarthy's announcement comes in the wake of an emotional week on the field. He engineered a fourth-quarter comeback Monday night to lead the Vikings to a 27-24 victory over the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Minnesota had not scored a touchdown through three quarters and trailed 17-6 after McCarthy threw a pick-six to Chicago cornerback Nahshon Wright. In the fourth quarter he directed three touchdown drives and finished the game with 143 passing yards and three total touchdowns, including one rushing score.

After the game McCarthy reflected on the length of his journey back to the field following a torn meniscus that cost him his rookie season. "I think it's been 609 days, I think I saw, since my last competitive football game [at Michigan], which was the national championship," he said. "So, it's been a while of being just in the training room, watching a lot of film, learning the playbook and trying to master that. At the end of the day, it's such a blessing to be an NFL football player and play in this league."

The Vikings will try to build on the momentum as they host the Atlanta Falcons this weekend, looking to move to 2-0 on the season. McCarthy, a former University of Michigan starter, returned to the spotlight with Monday's win and now has a child with his longtime partner as he settles into his role as the team's starting quarterback.

Katya's social media post, the team's recent on-field performance and McCarthy's comments about his recovery and return provide a timeline of a personal and professional stretch that has unfolded rapidly over recent months. The couple's decision to share hospital photos and the baby's name publicly follows their May announcement that they were expecting, and the organization and supporters have rapidly acknowledged both the new addition to the McCarthy family and the quarterback's early-season success on the field.