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Kyler Murray’s time with the Arizona Cardinals is officially over after the team released him on Wednesday at the start of the new league year.
Murray is now a free agent who can speak with any team that would like his services in 2026 and beyond. But it appears one team is going to actively pursue the former No. 1 overall pick.
The Minnesota Vikings, despite 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy entering his third season with the club, are the “heavy favorite” to sign Murray, according to ESPN.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray throws a pass during the first half against the Tennessee Titans in Glendale, Arizona on October 5, 2025. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
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. Injuries still cost him time.
With McCarthy’s status uncertain in Minnesota, it appears head coach Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the organization are looking for a veteran who could potentially step in while McCarthy develops.
Murray could be that signal-caller after a roller-coaster seven-year tenure 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.
ATHLETICS GM ‘STILL OPEN’ TO KYLER MURRAY MEETING BEFORE CARDINALS’ SCHEDULED RELEASE
“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
“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.”
Murray, 28, has had an up-and-down NFL career thus far, and injuries and inconsistent play have been a storyline he hasn’t been able to shake despite games when he proved why the team liked him as the No. 1 overall pick.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy runs toward the end zone for a touchdown during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys on December 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortés)
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.
Early in his tenure with the Cardinals, Murray was a player to build around after making back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021, the latter of which he threw for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns and ran for 423 yards with five scores on the ground. He also totaled 819 rushing yards with 11 rushing scores in 2020, a part of his game that made him so electric.
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.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray warms up before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. (Jérôme Miron/Imagn Images)
With quarterback-needy teams like the Miami Dolphins (Malik Willis) and New York Jets (Geno Smith) already filling out their depth chart earlier this week, the Vikings appear to be the best option if Murray is looking for a fresh start with a chance to make the playoffs.
It’s also worth noting that the Pittsburgh Steelers still don’t have a starting quarterback for next season, as they are apparently awaiting news on what Aaron Rodgers wants to do in 2026.
