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Kyler Murray’s time with the Arizona Cardinals is officially over after the team released him at the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
Murray is now a free agent who can talk to any team that wants his services in 2026 and beyond. But it looks like one team is going to go after the former first overall pick hard.
The Minnesota Vikings, even though 2024 first-round pick JJ McCarthy enters his third season with the club, are the “overwhelming 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 Oct. 5, 2025. (Rick Scuteri/AP)
McCarthy, who sat out his rookie year due to a season-ending injury in the preseason, got his first taste of regular-season NFL football in 2025. But McCarthy struggled despite a 6-4 record in 10 games. The injuries cost him time again.
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 can possibly step in while McCarthy develops.
Murray could be the one to signal after a roller coaster 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 it still owes him $36.8 million in guaranteed money from the five-year, $230.5 million extension he signed in 2022.
ATHLETICS GM ‘ALWAYS OPEN’ TO KYLER MURRAY MEETING BEFORE CARDINALS’ EXPECTED THROW
“To everyone who supported me and showed kindness to my family and me during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,” Murray wrote on
“I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for whatever comes. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe that my best ball is in front of me and I hope to prove it. Good luck.”
Murray, 28, has had an up-and-down NFL career so far, and injuries and inconsistent play have been a story he couldn’t shake despite games in which he showed why the team loved him as the No. 1 overall pick.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys on December 14, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Last season, Murray went 2-3 in his five games, throwing for six touchdowns and three interceptions before a foot injury sidelined him the rest of the way. Jacoby Brissett, who will take over as the team’s starter in the second year of the two-year contract he signed last offseason with the franchise, replaced Murray and thrived despite what the record said. He threw for a career-high 3,366 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
The Cardinals, however, finished 3-14 and the franchise went in a different direction and fired head coach Jonathan Gannon. Mike LaFleur, who served as offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams, is his replacement for 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 saw him throw for 3,787 yards and 24 touchdowns and rush for 423 yards with five scores on the ground. He also rushed for 819 yards with 11 rushing touchdowns in 2020, a part of his game that made him so electric.
However, injuries 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. (Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
With quarterback-needy teams like the Miami Dolphins (Malik Willis) and New York Jets (Geno Smith) already filling out their roster 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 apparently await news on what Aaron Rodgers wants to do in 2026.
