Cardinals QB Kyler Murray learns he will be cut, says goodbye on social media

Murray leaves after seven seasons and 87 games – all starts. Despite playing only five games this season, he finished with more games played than any other Arizona QB. More than Jake Plummer (82), more than Kurt Warner (61), more than Carson Palmer (60).

He is third all-time in franchise history with 20,460 passing yards, behind Jim Hart and Neil Lomax. He’s second to Hart in completions (1,974), and third in TD passes to Hart and Lomax (121). And his 3,193 rushing yards puts him 11^th all-time for the franchise, ahead of such backs as David Johnson, Edgerrin James and Beanie Wells.

Murray’s career started as hoped in Arizona with Kliff Kingsbury as coach. He was NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and made the Pro Bowl in 2020 and 2021. In 2020 he had his best statistical season, completing 375-of-558 passes for 3,971 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and also rushed for 819 yards and 11 more scores.

In 2021, he led the Cardinals to a 7-0 start and an 11-6 record, as the team made the playoffs for the only time in Murray’s tenure.

Things derailed in 2022. The Cardinals struggled in Kingsbury’s last season, and then Murray tore his ACL late in the season, knocking him out until midseason of 2023 under new coach Jonathan Gannon.

Murray’s return provided hope that season, however, and the 6-4 Cardinals were in first place in the NFC West at their bye in 2024. The team stalled in losing five of their last seven.

This season, expectations were high, and the Cardinals won their first two games. But they lost close games against the 49ers and Seahawks and then came the game that ultimately unraveled both Murray and the Cardinals seasons – the 22-21 loss to Tennessee in which Murray hurt his foot.

Murray did not play for the Cardinals again.

After missing three games (Murray was able to practice some in the late stages of the rehab), he ended up on Injured Reserve on Nov. 5. Once he was eligible to return, however, Gannon ultimately said the QB would remain on the list for the balance of the season.

Since then, there was ample conversation about Murray’s future in Arizona. A fresh start for both him and the team seemed inevitable, especially with a coaching change.