The Arizona Cardinals officially released quarterback Kyler Murray on Wednesday, marking the end of a seven-year tenure for the former No. 1 overall draft pick. The move, foreshadowed for more than a week, comes as the Cardinals begin a significant rebuild following a 3-14 season and the recent firing of head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Murray, who tweeted about his departure on March 3 and further commented on social media on March 5, expressed disappointment with how his time in Arizona concluded. “7 years .. Damn,” Murray wrote in an Instagram post. “I never wanted things to end like this.” He too voiced concern for his former teammates, stating, “To my teammates … It breaks me the most that we never got it done.”
General Manager Monti Ossenfort acknowledged Murray’s contributions, stating, “With today’s start of the new league year and transactions now official, we want to thank Kyler for everything he has done for this organization over the last seven years. We are extremely grateful for his contributions both on the field and off and we wish him nothing but the absolute best moving forward.”
The Cardinals utilized a post-June 1 designation for the release, which will spread the approximately $55 million cap hit over two years. The team will carry the full charge until June 1, after which it will be reduced to about $47.5 million for 2026, with a remaining $7.2 million impacting the 2027 cap. Murray is currently owed $36 million by the Cardinals this season, potentially allowing him to sign with another team for the league minimum of $1.3 million if he chooses.
The release of Murray follows a tumultuous period for both the player and the organization. While initially viewed as a promising pairing when selected first overall in 2019 alongside head coach Kliff Kingsbury, the duo achieved only limited success, reaching the playoffs once in 2021 with a decisive loss to the Los Angeles Rams. A contract extension signed in 2022 included a clause requiring Murray to dedicate four hours a week to independent film study, a detail that became public and raised questions about his commitment.
Murray’s 2023 season was cut short by a foot injury sustained in Week 5. His final season with the Cardinals saw a shift in playing time, with Jacoby Brissett taking over at quarterback after a reported benching of Murray, though the Cardinals publicly attributed the move to his ongoing injury. The team finished the season with a 3-14 record.
The Cardinals have since hired Mike LaFleur as their new head coach, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams. The team now faces the task of finding a long-term solution at quarterback. The Vikings have been speculated as a potential destination for Murray, though the Atlanta Falcons have already secured Tua Tagovailoa and the New York Jets acquired Geno Smith, removing those teams from contention.
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