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Kyler Murray is heading north and joining the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal after being released by the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, according to multiple reports.
Murray now creates serious competition for JJ McCarthy, the No. 10 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who hasn’t had the best start to his career.
The Cardinals still owe Murray $36.8 million, making this a veteran-minimum deal for the league — a low-risk, high-reward signing that could bode well for head coach Kevin O’Connell.
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Former Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is flying north to join the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal. (Rick Scuteri/AP Photo)
Murray reportedly visited the Vikings on Thursday and thought he wouldn’t leave the building without having a contract in place.
The Vikings have been reported as the “heavy favorite” to land Murray despite McCarthy entering his third season in 2026.
VIKINGS EMERGE AS ‘HEAD FAVORITE’ TO LAND KYLER MURRAY AFTER CARDINALS RELEASED: REPORT
McCarthy, who did not play his rookie year due to a season-ending injury during the preseason, got his first taste of regular-season NFL football in 2025. But McCarthy struggled despite going 6-4 in 10 games, as injuries once again cost him time on the sideline.
The addition of Murray confirms that McCarthy’s status at quarterback is in limbo.
But Murray had his own rollercoaster ride during seven years with Arizona, going 38-48-1 in 87 games. He apologized to Cardinals fans last week, confirming the team’s intentions to release him even though he is still owed $36.8 million in guaranteed money from his five-year, $230.5 million extension he signed in 2022.
“To everyone who supported me and showed kindness to me and my family during my time in Arizona, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Murray wrote on
Murray reportedly visited the Vikings on Thursday. (Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
“I’m no stranger to adversity, I’m ready to take on what’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe my best ball is in front of me and I can’t wait to prove it. Good luck.”
Last season, Murray went 2-3 in his five games, throwing six touchdowns and three interceptions before a foot injury sidelined him for the rest of the game. Jacoby Brissett, who is expected to take over as the team’s starter in the second year of the two-year deal he signed last offseason with the franchise, took over for Murray and has thrived despite what the record says. He threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Cardinals, however, finished 3-14, and the franchise took a different direction and fired head coach Jonathan Gannon. Mike LaFleur, who was the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams, will replace him until 2026.
But, early in his tenure with the Cardinals, Murray was a player to build on after making back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021, the latter of which threw for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 423 yards with five rushing scores. He also totaled 819 rushing yards with 11 rushing scores in 2020, a part of his game that made him so electric.
Murray’s arrival creates serious competition for Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy. (AP Photo/Julio Cortés)
Injuries, however, have hampered Murray’s career, including a torn ACL in Week 14 of the 2022 season that caused him to miss nine games in 2023. Then, after a full 17-game season in 2024, he injured his foot.
Zooming out, the addition of Murray to the Vikings leaves the Pittsburgh Steelers truly leaning on the return of Aaron Rodgers in 2026 as they awaited his decision on whether or not to reunite with new head coach Mike McCarthy. The New York Jets (Geno Smith), Miami Dolphins (Malik Willis) and Atlanta Falcons (Tua Tagovailoa) made moves this week at the position.
