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Minnesota Vikings‘ QB J.J. McCarthy proved to be kind of a sicko last week against the Detroit Lions, and in videos that came post-game. These videos included him staring down head coach Kevin O’Connell during his post-game victory speech to the team. In this video, not only is McCarthy staring KOC down, he almost looks possessed by something. These characteristics are tied up in an alter-ego that McCarthy himself has named “9”. To conclude the post-game huddle-up, McCarthy debuted a new tagline: “Like a dog in the street, howl!”. Vikings Debut New Locker Room Tagline This isn’t a nod to their fellow major American Minnesotan sports sibling, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Instead, it was from second-year left tackle Walter Rouse, as reported by KARE 11 News’ Julia Daniels in a tweet. Justin Jefferson was asked in press conference earlier this week about it. “[McCarthy] isn’t the one that started it, offense started it. O-line started it”, said the all-world wide receiver. When asked what it means, Jefferson responded: “They’ll explain it to you, I’ll leave them to explain it to you. Ask Walter [Rouse] what that means, actually.” Walter Rouse Explains “Like A Dog In The Street” Heeding the advice of Justin Jefferson, reporters when to second-year left tackle Walter Rouse looking for the origins of “like a dog in the street.” “It’s kinda like a rallying cry. Like they trip or something, something happens, like you know they fumble”, Rouse started. He continued: “Boy, like a dog in the street! You know it’s like a dog in the street!” Rouse went on to comically howl like a dog at the moon. His words didn’t really cover the entirety of the origin story, but that’s probably because there wasn’t one. Not every saying needs a deep backstory. For the Vikings, this quote could really describe the mentality they need to continue in their winning ways for the rest of the year. “Like A Dog In The Street!”: How Minnesota Could Embody The Motto It could be the perfect motto to represent the 2025 Minnesota Vikings led by QB J.J. McCarthy. The kid has never really been one to fill up the stat sheet, but he’s always just found a way to win. The perfect example is this past Sunday in Detroit. In his third career start, McCarthy led the Vikings on the road into a ruckus environment and came out victorious. Yes, he had three touchdowns (two in the air, one on the ground), but he only accounted for 143 total passing yards on the day. Funnily enough, McCarthy had the same exact stat line in Week 1, another game in which he led the Vikings to a win in a divisional game on the road. Gone are the days of Kirk Cousins who would fill up the stat sheet. Here are the days of J.J. McCarthy who may redefine the term of “wins are a quarterback stat”. For a team with a quarterback that just knows how to win, and a defense that is feared for its relentless tendencies of pressuring opposing passers, the Vikings could embody “like a dog in the street!” and make 2025 a successful year.
