The Arizona Cardinals have officially notified two-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kyler Murray of their decision to release him at the onset of the new league year on March 11, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity. This information has not been publicly announced yet.
Murray, who was the first overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, is set to become a free agent and will be able to sign with any team after his release. He has a guaranteed contract worth $36.8 million for the year 2026.
The 28-year-old signal-caller shared an emotional farewell message on social media directed at the fans in Arizona. In his post, he expressed disappointment over his inability to achieve more success with the franchise. During his seven seasons with the team, he led the Cardinals to the playoffs once, which resulted in 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 wrote. “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 further added, “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.”
Last season, Murray played in only five games, recording 962 passing yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions before suffering a foot injury against the Tennessee Titans. Initially, the Cardinals believed he would return in a few weeks, but backup Jacoby Brissett“s solid performance led to a quarterback controversy. Eventually, Murray was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for the remainder of the season, as the team concluded the year with a disappointing 3-14 record and subsequently fired head coach Jonathan Gannon.
Murray joined the Cardinals with lofty expectations after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oklahoma in 2019. At various points, he showcased his talent, earning the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year title and delivering memorable moments, including the famous “Hail Murray” play in 2020, where he connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a game-winning touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.
The high point of his tenure in Arizona came in 2021 when the team surged to a 10-2 record early in December. However, they faltered down the stretch, losing four of their last five games and were then eliminated by the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round.
In 2022, the Cardinals signed Murray to a five-year contract worth $230.5 million, with $160 million guaranteed. However, shortly after this extension, a controversial clause requiring him to complete a minimum of four hours of “independent study” each week was removed from his contract, raising questions about his work ethic and straining his relationship with the organization.
Following a torn ACL suffered against the New England Patriots in 2022, which caused him to miss the remainder of that season and a significant portion of the 2023 campaign, the Cardinals parted ways with head coach Kliff Kingsbury and hired Gannon as his replacement. While the Gannon-Murray partnership showed promise in 2024 with an 8-9 record, the 2025 season quickly unraveled, leading to the conclusion of Murray”s time with the franchise.
