His selection of Kyler Murray, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick and NFL Rookie of the Year, has ignited furious debates. Fans and analysts have been arguing about his legacy with the Arizona Cardinals. Murray seemed like the answer at first for his franchise in their search for a franchise quarterback. Yet, his professional path has been one of struggle and frustration. From a stellar high school and college career to a tumultuous stint in the NFL, the question remains: what will his legacy be if he and the Cardinals part ways?
Murray’s early accolades set high expectations. As a high school star in Texas, his record was an equally impressive 42 – 0. At Texas A&M and Oklahoma, he won at an impressive 24-5 clip. His success during those formative years inspired a sense of hope to Cardinals fans who had suffered through several years of nothing but mediocrity. Even with these formative successes, that competitive lineage has not made the transition to the pro ranks as seamlessly.
As an NFL starter, Murray is 38-48-1, a jarring juxtaposition compared to his former accolades. His only playoff appearance came in 2021, culminating in a disappointing blowout loss against the Los Angeles Rams on “Monday Night Football.” This performance did nothing to lessen the watchful eye on his preparedness both as a leader and starting quarterback.
In December 2022, Murray’s season turned tragic. He was then forced to retire when he tore his ACL during a “Monday Night Football” game. This serious injury kept him out for the remainder of that season. It only served to add to the uncertainty surrounding his future with the organization. By the time he was injured, reports indicated that Murray and head coach Kliff Kingsbury were hardly communicating, raising concerns about their working relationship.
The relationship between Murray and Kingsbury has been a trainwreck. That’s why during a 2022 Thursday night game against the New Orleans Saints, Murray yelled at Kingsbury. He asked him to “chill out,” which underlined some of the bubbling frustrations between the two men. Yet it wasn’t just this failure to communicate that exposed profound rifts in the organization. It also triggered more questions about Murray’s role and impact on team decisions.
Along with the personal issues, Murray found himself under fire for his alleged lack of work ethic. The Cardinals responded by adding an independent study clause to his contract. At home, he needs to do an extra four hours of studying each week. This clause sparked national outcry over his commitment to improving his play. It suggested that he needed somebody else’s threats to get serious about his job.
As the 2023 season began, a new chapter began with the coaching turnover leading to new expectations for Murray. With Drew Petzing’s help, he came into his third season prepared to operate a completely overhauled offense. This time around, it’s all about fixing his mechanics and footwork. Coach Jonathan Gannon announced that Murray wouldn’t be returning from his foot injury. This injury has kept him out of action since Week 6 and you can see in his game that it’s still bothering him.
As the latest chapter in Murray’s injury saga unfolds, the cloud of uncertainty hangs even heavier over Murray’s future in Arizona. Opinions and forecasts are buzzing all over the web about whether he will stay with the Cardinals or go out and find other opportunities. The team’s clock management and decision-making process would be dramatically changed if they opt to move on from their former first overall pick.
Murray has already spoken candidly about his optimism for the future and newfound bond with the organization. “I don’t know when it’s coming out, but I hope I’m here to see it,” he stated, reflecting his desire to continue contributing to the franchise’s success.
Leave a Reply