J.J. McCarthy kisses girlfriend after winning national championship

Publish date: 2024-06-10

Explore More

J.J. McCarthy sealed his junior year with a kiss after winning the national championship.

The Michigan quarterback shared a sweet moment with his longtime girlfriend, Katya Kuropas, in the stands after the Wolverines beat Washington, 34-13, in the College Football Playoff championship game on Monday night.

McCarthy ran over to the front row at NRG Stadium in Houston, where Kuropas was sitting with his family, and kissed her as she leaned over the wall.

The couple shared a brief exchange, before McCarthy hugged his family.

The 20-year-old quarterback was on cloud nine while sporting his National Champions hat under the falling confetti.

McCarthy threw for 140 yards and ran for another 31 to improve to 27-1 as a starter for the Wolverines, who mostly relied on their running game in the victory.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy kisses his girlfriend, Katya Kuropas, in the stands after the Wolverines beat Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff title game on January 8, 2023. X
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy kisses his girlfriend, Katya Kuropas, in the stands after the Wolverines beat Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff title game on January 8, 2023. X

McCarthy and Kuropas celebrated five years together in October, according to a tribute he shared at the time on Instagram.

“1,825 days with the love of my life but a million moments that will be remembered and cherished for the rest of my life,” he wrote in the post, which featured photos of the couple. “I couldn’t be more grateful for who you are and everything you do!

“You make me the best version of myself and it has been a complete blessing to continually watch you grow into the amazing woman you are. I love you my queen!!!”

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy kisses his girlfriend, Katya Kuropas, in the stands after the Wolverines beat Washington 34-13 in the College Football Playoff title game on January 8, 2023. X

McCarthy and Kuropas have been dating since at least September 2018, when he was a sophomore in high school at Nazareth Academy in Illinois, according to his Instagram.

The couple stayed together after McCarthy transferred to IMG Academy due to the cancellation of Nazareth’s football season during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and his girlfriend, Katya Kuropas celebrate five years together in October 2023. Instagram/J.J. McCarthy
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy and his girlfriend, Katya Kuropas. Instagram/Katya Kuropas

Kuropas previously supported McCarthy on the sidelines, where they weren’t shy about showing off some PDA in the middle of Michigan’s 45-7 rout of Nebraska on Sept. 30.

ncG1vNJzZmimqaW8tMCNnKamZ2Jlf3V7j2pmaXFfqL2wvtOsZqNlmmK6pK%2FAq6uhsV2gtrS%2FxKxkoKGiobOztcSnm2aZlqmys3nWoqWnoZ6ceq%2Bt06Kmp5mcYrCprcypoKimo522sXs%3D