Cardinals inform 2-time Pro Bowl QB
Kyler Murray they plan to release him next week, AP source says
[March 04, 2026]
By DAVID BRANDT
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — The Arizona Cardinals have informed two-time Pro
Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray that they plan to release him at the
beginning of the new league year on March 11, a person familiar with
the decision told The Associated Press.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the
move can’t be officially announced until next week.
Murray, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 draft, — who is owed
$36.8 million in guaranteed money in 2026 — will be free to sign
with any team once he’s released.
The 28-year-old posted a goodbye message to Arizona’s fans on social
media, expressing regret that he couldn’t have more success with the
franchise. He led the team to the playoffs just once during his
seven-year tenure — a wild-card loss in 2021.
“To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and
I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,”
Murray posted. “I wanted nothing more than to be the one to end the
77-year drought for this organization, I am sorry I failed us. I
wish this community and my brothers nothing but the best.
He continued: “I am no stranger to adversity, I am prepared for
whatever’s next. I trust in God and my work ethic. I truly believe
my best ball is in front of me and I look forward to proving it.
Godspeed.”
Murray played in just five games last season — throwing for 962
yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions — before suffering a
foot injury against the Tennessee Titans. The Cardinals initially
thought Murray would only miss a few weeks, but backup Jacoby
Brissett played well in his absence, creating a quarterback
controversy.
Murray was eventually placed on injured reserve and missed the rest
of the season. The Cardinals finished with a 3-14 record and fired
coach Jonathan Gannon.
Murray arrived in Arizona with huge expectations after winning the
Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 2019, and at times he delivered.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws a pass during
the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans,
Oct. 5, 2025, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
He was the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year,
providing multiple electrifying highlights such as the so-called
“Hail Murray” in 2020, when he connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a
game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on the final play
of the game.
The pinnacle of his Cardinals’ tenure came in 2021, when the team
jumped out to a 10-2 record by early December. But Arizona faded
down the stretch, losing four of its final five games before getting
bounced by the Los Angeles Rams 34-11 in the wild-card round.
The Cardinals signed Murray to $230.5 million, five-year deal in
2022 with $160 million guaranteed, but the honeymoon after that
commitment was short lived. A few weeks after signing the deal, the
franchise removed a strange clause in his contract, which mandated
four hours of “independent study” during game weeks.
The kerfuffle called into question Murray’s work ethic, and his
relationship with the franchise was never quite the same.
Murray tore his ACL against the New England Patriots in 2022, which
caused him to miss the rest of that season and a big chunk of the
2023 schedule. Coach Kliff Kingsbury was fired after the 2022 season
and Gannon was hired to replace him.
The Gannon-Murray relationship showed some promise in 2024 when the
Cardinals improved to 8-9 and were in the playoff hunt until the
final few weeks of the season.
But 2025 fell apart quickly, hastening the end of Murray's time in
the desert.
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