Kyler Murray will look to resurrect his career with the Vikings.
The former Cardinals quarterback agreed to a one-year contract with Minnesota on Wednesday, per multiple reports. The decision comes after Arizona decided last week to release him at the start of the new league year.
The Cardinals still owe Murray $36.8 million, so Minnesota will pay him the veteran league minimum.
Murray’s seven years with the Cardinals were a whirlwind. He won the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma and was then drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. That season, he finished with 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns through the air, earning him AP Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
He then made the Pro Bowl in the next two years, even leading Arizona to a 7-0 start in 2021.
But it was all downhill from there. He tore his ACL in Week 14 of 2022, forcing him to miss eight more games the following season. In 2025, he played just five games due to a season-ending foot injury.
Even across the last four years, Murray’s “X factor” — his rushing ability — hasn’t saved him. He turned in 819 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground in 2020 but failed to hit over 600 yards again.
He finished his Cardinals’ career with 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns and 60 interceptions in 87 starts.
Murray’s release from the Cardinals wasn’t surprising. He’s owed $36.8 million in 2026 and another $19.5 million 2027 if he was still on the roster on March 15.
He later posted a farewell message to Arizona on X.
“To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the 77 year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us,” Murray wrote. “I wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best. I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatever’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it. Godspeed.”
His decision sparked MLB’s Athletics — who drafted Murray with their first rounder in 2018 before he decided to prioritize football — to say they’d be open to exploring a return to baseball with the A’s. The Athletics still own Murray’s rights if he were to make the switch.
Though it’s clear he’s still committed to football.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
