Vikings sign Kyler Murray in their
latest QB pivot, bringing in competition for J.J. McCarthy
[March 13, 2026]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings found in Kyler Murray an
ideal addition to their quarterback depth chart, setting up stiff
competition for incumbent J.J. McCarthy for the starting job this
season — and perhaps beyond.
Murray visited Vikings headquarters and signed a one-year contract
on Thursday, after the first overall pick from the 2019 NFL draft
was released by the Arizona Cardinals. Because he's already owed
$36.8 million in guaranteed salary by the Cardinals for this season,
Murray was able to sign for the veteran minimum of $1.3 million and
give the Vikings a no-risk opportunity.
“Contractually, it doesn’t really make a difference to me. Every
year to me is a go-out-there-and-prove-it year,” Murray said on a
video call with reporters.
Murray, despite being sidetracked recently by injuries and dogged by
questions about his work ethic, has two Pro Bowl selections, a 67%
career completion percentage, a 2-to-1 ratio of touchdown passes to
interceptions — and a bonus of 3,193 rushing yards with 32 scores.
McCarthy, the Vikings' 2024 first-round draft pick whose injuries
and inconsistency have raised the question of how long they can
afford to wait for him to develop, missed his rookie season while
recovering from knee surgery. Last year, he had an ankle sprain, a
concussion and a broken hand that limited him to 10 starts and only
eight games finished. Even when he was healthy, his struggles with
accuracy were pronounced enough to force the Vikings to consider
alternatives despite his significant potential.
“I talked to him this week. We had a great conversation about the
things he’s been working on,” coach Kevin O'Connell said. “He’s
focused on what’s out in front of him personally, and he’s attacking
that every single day. He’s doing great.”
Murray, as if he were sliding away from a pass rusher in the pocket,
smoothly sidestepped a question about whether he believes he was
targeted to compete with McCarthy or was promised the job. O'Connell
pointed to the calendar and declined to dive into what will be the
primary storyline throughout the offseason until a starter is
declared.
“I don’t believe we have to name one of those currently,” O'Connell
said.
Murray, who turns 29 on Aug. 7, will have the opportunity to
rejuvenate his career and set up a big payday next year, much like
Sam Darnold did in 2024 with O'Connell and the Vikings after
McCarthy was sidelined. Though Murray has not played in a system
like the one O'Connell runs, his ability is such that finding a way
to be productive with him ought not to be difficult for the 2024 AP
NFL Coach of the Year.
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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)
“I don’t want to put any limitations on what that
looks like. He’s had a tremendous amount of success with different
quarterbacks. I know what my skill set brings to the game. I know
what I’m capable of,” said Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy at
Oklahoma and the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
The Cardinals signed Murray to a hefty contract extension in 2022,
but a few weeks after the deal was done the club removed a strange
clause in the contract that mandated four hours of “independent
study” during game weeks. The kerfuffle called into question
Murray’s work habits, and his relationship with the franchise was
never the same.
Murray tore the ACL in his right knee late in the 2022 season,
causing him to miss more than half of the 2023 schedule. Then he
played only five games in 2025 because of an injury to his right
foot.
Murray led Arizona to the playoffs just once in seven years, a
wild-card round loss after the 2021 season to the eventual Super
Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. O'Connell, the offensive coordinator
for that Rams team, inherited with the Vikings in 2022 a productive
veteran who fit well with his scheme in Kirk Cousins.
Cousins was playing as well as he had in his career in 2023 until
tearing his Achilles tendon halfway through the season, starting a
carousel of starting quarterbacks that hasn't stopped spinning for
this club. Minnesota has found plenty of short-term success but
failed to find a franchise cornerstone. With Darnold, McCarthy and
now Murray, O'Connell will have coached three top-10 draft picks at
his specialty position. Murray could become the ninth starting
quarterback in five years.
The match appears to be ideal — and maybe even destined. Murray
posted on social media a picture of him in a youth football uniform
for a team called the Vikings, an experience at age 7 that formed in
him a fondness for the NFL version. Murray revealed that he “cried
real tears” after the interception Brett Favre threw late in the NFC
championship game after the 2009 season that helped keep that team
from reaching the Super Bowl.
“Never in a million years did I think that this was going to come
around full circle,” Murray said. “I think that it's a great fit.
I’m thankful for the opportunity.”
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