Kyler Murray has been in the NFL long enough to have experienced a lot. The 27-year-old was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2019 and has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice.
He has led the Arizona Cardinals to an 11-win season, faced playoff disappointments, witnessed one head coach being hired and another being fired, and has dealt with a torn knee ligament that kept him out for almost a year.
Despite all this, he still believes the Cardinals are heading in the right direction, even with a 2-4 record this season. He strongly supports second-year coach Jonathan Gannon as they prepare for their first Monday night game together against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Six years after being picked first overall following his Heisman Trophy win at Oklahoma, Murray is in his prime in the NFL.
“We’re 2-4, but when we go out there on Sunday and we’re on the field, you’re at that point where you’ve seen pretty much all of it,” Murray said. “It’s a good feeling. Obviously, we have to deliver and execute.”
Murray mentioned on an ESPN podcast this week that he feels this is the best he has played in six games, and the statistics mostly support that. He entered the weekend ranked No. 8 in quarterback rating, just behind Lamar Jackson and C.J. Stroud, and ahead of two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes and Baker Mayfield.
The Cardinals are still having trouble getting consistent wins. But for the most part, their quarterback has never performed better.
“He’s one of the premier players in the world,” Gannon said earlier this season. “He’s always in control and he understands what’s going on. That’s the cool thing for me. The mental part of the game.”
In many ways, Murray is still the same player he was when he started in 2019. He’s a skilled passer, even though he’s not very tall, and he can use his quick speed to make big plays on the ground, like his 50-yard touchdown run against the 49ers two weeks ago.
The biggest change is in his attitude. The quarterback was used to almost constant success in high school and college, racking up wins and awards quickly.
Then he was drafted by the Cardinals. Changing a team that has struggled in the NFL hasn’t been easy. Arizona has only made the playoffs nine times since 1949 and hasn’t won a title since 1947.
“Getting into the league and dealing with failure, I took it super hard,” Murray said. “I think it was kind of a detriment.
“You don’t want to learn how to lose, but at the end of the day you kind of have to learn how to deal with those things and continue to play the game at a high level. I guess you could say that’s maturity and age.”
Murray’s maturity has shown in different ways. During the offseason, he organized several team-building trips, including one to Oklahoma and another to Los Angeles. He shared a photo from the California trip over the summer, which included 12 teammates, such as running back James Conner, rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and tight end Trey McBride.
Murray has quickly formed a strong connection with Harrison, who was the No. 4 overall pick from Ohio State. Their on-field teamwork is still developing, but they have already had many good moments together, including four touchdown catches.
Harrison is expected to play on Monday, even after suffering a concussion in last week’s game against the Packers. The Murray-Harrison partnership reflects the Cardinals’ season: sometimes amazing, but too inconsistent to win regularly.
However, Murray’s new maturity has helped him learn to be patient. This patience drives him as the Cardinals aim to reach the playoffs for only the second time in nine seasons.
“Honestly, the culture that we’re building, the mindset, the mentality of the team, the temperament of the team, nobody is going to waver,” Murray said. “Like I said, it’s a long season. Everybody’s confident. “We know what needs to be done, and we just have to go do it.”
