It appears to be the end of the line for Kyler Murray in the desert. The seventh-year quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals has been placed on IR, and his future with Arizona remains in doubt.

Drafted with the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, Murray has spent his entire career with the Cardinals. He arrived in Arizona and was expected to be the future of the organization and eventually lead them to a Super Bowl. 

There were flashes of success over his time in the Valley, but the Cardinals never reached the upper echelon of the NFL. Now, all signs point to an eventual split between Murray and the Cardinals.

Kyler Murray’s Rise and Promise

The career of Murray started off strong when he won the 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. In each of his first three years of his career, he accounted for over 4,000 yards of offense. 

Throughout his career in Arizona, he has accounted for over 20,000 passing yards and 121 touchdowns, both good for third all-time in Cardinals history. Well known for his dual-threat ability, Murray added another 3,000 yards and 32 touchdowns on the ground.

In 2021, he had arguably the best season of his career as Arizona leaped out to a 7-0 start to the campaign. The Cardinals would ultimately falter in the second half of the season and end 11-6; however, it was enough for the playoffs. Murray and the Cardinals would lose this lone playoff appearance in blowout fashion to the Rams.

This playoff loss was truly the beginning of the end for Murray’s time in Arizona. 

After the 2021 season, Murray received a five-year extension with the Cardinals, worth over $230 million. Following this monumental contract, Arizona spent the 2022 season struggling to pick up any momentum. Murray would pick up a minor injury and miss a few games in the middle of the year. 

However, things took a turn for the worse in his second game back, as he would tear his ACL in a Monday Night Football game against the Patriots. With a major injury such as this, it made many question how it could affect his dual-threat ability. 

Despite returning midway through the 2023 season and playing the entirety of the 2024 season, the Cardinals have yet to see Murray fulfill the potential that was seen in him prior to his being drafted.

A Fork in the Road

While the 2025 season started out strong, it would quickly collapse as Arizona would lose its next five games. Inconsistent offense and an inability to close out games plagued the Cardinals through this stretch.

Amidst this losing streak, Murray would injure his heel and be forced to miss action.

In came Jacoby Brissett.

Following an epic meltdown against the Titans, Arizona had to turn to Brissett. He would respond with a 1-2 record in the next three games, but his command of the offense could not be ignored.

Averaging over 280 passing yards per game and throwing for six touchdowns against only one interception, Brissett has excelled. While the offense seems to be hitting a stride, it appears to have put the future of Murray in Arizona in question.

Where things get weird in Arizona is how the whole situation has been handled. Initial reports pointed towards Murray making his return to start against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. 

However, things took a turn as Brissett was once again announced as the starter. To make matters more complicated, the Cardinals also announced that Murray “might have a role” in the game. Ultimately, Murray was deemed inactive, and Brissett would lead Arizona to their first win since Week 2.

Against the Cowboys, Brissett was efficient and decisive with the ball. He got key figures Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride heavily involved in the passing game and threw each of them a touchdown. He would end the day with 261 passing yards and three total touchdowns.

With Arizona seeming to find an offensive rhythm, many around the league expected Brissett to remain the starter. Now, as Murray heads to the IR, it appears increasingly likely that Brissett will finish this season as the starting quarterback.

Where to Go From Here?

What is next? Not only for Arizona, but for Murray as well? It is likely that this partnership has seen its end and that Murray will be traded this offseason.

Where is that? There have been multiple potential suitors mentioned—the Raiders, Dolphins, Browns, and Jets are just a few to name.

More importantly for Arizona, they must figure out if Brissett really is the guy moving forward. The prospect of a 32-year-old journeyman quarterback becoming the face of the franchise for the foreseeable future is a scary one. 

However, this may not be too far from the norm in Arizona. Just look at two of the most successful quarterbacks in Cardinal history—Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer. 

Both men had their first seasons in Arizona at 34 years old after years of service for other teams in the league. Each man would eventually lead the Cardinals to playoff appearances, and in Warner’s case, a Super Bowl appearance. Most impressively, they are both in the Cardinals Ring of Honor.

While it would be ridiculous to guarantee that Brissett will live up to these standards, it would also be ignorant not to even consider the possibility. To be fair, one of these prolific performances that people are raving about happened against the worst defense in the league.

While Brissett was impressive in his first three games, could he really keep up this steady play? With offensive weapons like Harrison Jr. and McBride, there’s a lot of talent to fall back on.

Kyler Murray’s Future

On the flip side, where does Kyler Murray go from here? Is it possible that we have not seen the last of him in Arizona? You never know what can happen in the NFL, but it seems more than likely that he will be traded this upcoming offseason. 

Although this is a tough break for the former Heisman trophy winner, it is not the end. The NFL is in an era where quarterbacks have been able to bounce back after disappointing starts to their careers. Look no further than guys such as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. Each was written off following their stints in Cleveland and New York, but now they are both succeeding in new spaces.

The Raiders, Browns, Saints, and Jets have been in quarterback purgatory for years. The Jaguars and Dolphins could both be ready to move on from their own quarterback situations. And do not keep your eyes off the Vikings, Panthers, and Steelers.

The Kyler Murray era in Arizona is one that will be remembered as exciting and unpredictable. He brought energy to a franchise that has consistently struggled to make its presence felt throughout the league. Sadly, the results never met expectations. Now, each side must turn the page as this chapter is over, and the next one awaits.

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