After J.J. McCarthy helped lead the Michigan Wolverines to their first national championship since 1997, it comes as no surprise that everyone knows his name.
Or do they?
Nicknames last forever, especially in sports, where the elite can even be identified only by a first name. McCarthy can only hope to one day join that exclusive club, but he’s well on his way after a solid college career.
While he won’t be confused with All-Name Team entries like Kool-Aid McKinstry or Chop Robinson, McCarthy is still known by a name that contradicts his birth certificate. Here’s the fairly simple reason for the double J’s at the front of McCarthy’s name.
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What is J.J. McCarthy’s real name?
There isn’t some great mystery behind McCarthy’s real name, which is Jonathan James McCarthy.
The nickname is simply shortening it into a nice and easy “J.J.,” a name that his family has always used, according to the Chicago Tribune.
McCarthy’s parents added that he was a handful to deal with, telling the paper of some of his antics as a child.
“From 2 to 7, he was a maniac,” his father told the paper. “He was thick when younger, like a bowling ball. He’d throw balls through mirrors by mistake, break lamps. He was a sweet kid but would always test the waters. At school he was antsy. The teachers reeled him in, God bless them.”
Regardless, it seems to have worked out nicely for everyone involved.
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J.J. McCarthy NFL Mock Draft
McCarthy might not be the first signal-caller off the board, but he should hear his name called early in the first round. Here is how Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer sees the top-10 quarterbacks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
2024 NFL DRAFT TOP 10 LISTS: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | EDGE
| Ranking | Player | School |
| 1 | Caleb Williams | USC |
| 2 | Drake Maye | North Carolina |
| 3 | Jayden Daniels | LSU |
| 4 | J.J. McCarthy | Michigan |
| 5 | Bo Nix | Oregon |
| 6 | Michael Penix Jr. | Washington |
| 7 | Spencer Rattler | South Carolina |
| 8 | Michael Pratt | Tulane |
| 9 | Jordan Travis | Florida State |
| 10 | Joe Milton III | Tennessee |
