Kyler Murray Bio
Kyler Cole Murray (born August 7, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Texas A&M Aggies, Murray transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2018 with the Oklahoma Sooners. He was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL draft and was also selected ninth overall by the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 2018 draft, making him the first player ever drafted in the first round of both the NFL and MLB.
After earning the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019, Murray developed into one of the league’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks. He earned back-to-back Pro Bowl selections in 2020 and 2021 and led Arizona to its first playoff appearance since 2015. Murray currently ranks among the most accurate passers in league history.
Early Life and Background
Kyler Cole Murray was born on August 7, 1997, in Bedford, Texas, and raised in nearby Allen, Texas. He attended Allen High School, one of the most decorated football programs in the state. As a senior in 2014, Murray was named Gatorade Football Player of the Year and became the first player to win the Mr. Texas Football award twice. He led Allen to three straight state championships and a 43-game winning streak, finishing his high school career with a perfect 42-0 record as a starting quarterback.
Murray was a five-star recruit and ranked as the best dual-threat quarterback in his class by ESPN, Scout.com, and 247Sports. In May 2014, he committed to Texas A&M University to play both college football and college baseball, signing with the program on February 4, 2015. He was also a standout baseball prospect and the first player ever selected to both the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and the Under Armour All-America Football Game.
Path to American Football
As a true freshman at Texas A&M in 2015, Murray competed with Kyle Allen for the starting quarterback job and eventually won the position midseason. In his first career start, he threw for 223 yards and rushed for 156 yards with a passing and rushing touchdown, joining Cam Newton as the only SEC quarterbacks in two decades to reach those marks in their debut. After losing the starting role late in the year, Murray announced on December 24, 2015, that he would transfer to the University of Oklahoma, where he sat out the 2016 season per NCAA transfer rules.
At Oklahoma, Murray served as a backup to Heisman winner Baker Mayfield in 2017 and took over as the starter in 2018. That season, he threw for more than 4,000 yards and 42 touchdowns while rushing for over 1,000 yards and 12 scores, leading the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance. His historic season earned him the 2018 Heisman Trophy, giving Oklahoma back-to-back Heisman winners.
Kyler Murray Career
Early Career (2019)
Murray entered the 2019 NFL draft as the top quarterback prospect in his class and was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals, joining head coach Kliff Kingsbury. The pick made Murray the shortest quarterback drafted in the first round and the first player ever taken in the first round of both the NFL and MLB drafts. He signed a four-year, $35.2 million rookie contract on May 9, 2019.
Murray opened his rookie season with 308 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Detroit Lions on September 8, 2019. He produced multiple 300-yard passing games throughout the year, including 349 yards against the Baltimore Ravens and 340 yards with three touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons. He finished with 3,722 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 544 rushing yards, and four rushing scores, earning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Arizona Cardinals Breakthrough (2020–2021)
In 2020, Murray elevated his production and consistency, passing for 3,971 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 819 yards and 11 scores. He earned his first Pro Bowl selection and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week three times. The signature moment came in Week 10 against the Buffalo Bills, when his 43-yard Hail Mary pass to DeAndre Hopkins, known as “Hail Murray,” stunned Buffalo 32-30 and pushed Arizona into the NFC West lead.
Murray’s 2021 season was his strongest to date. He led the Cardinals to a 7-0 start and threw for 3,787 yards with 24 passing touchdowns, 423 rushing yards, and five rushing scores in 14 games played. He earned his second straight Pro Bowl nod and made his NFL postseason debut in the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Rams, where the Cardinals fell 34-11.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2022–Present)
On July 21, 2022, Murray signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with $160 million guaranteed, cementing his long-term future in Arizona. He played 11 games in 2022, throwing for 2,368 yards and 14 touchdowns before a non-contact knee injury in Week 14 tore his ACL and ended his season. He was placed on injured reserve on December 14, 2022.
Murray returned from injury in 2023 under new head coach Jonathan Gannon, making his season debut on November 12. He led the Cardinals’ offense to noticeably better output when on the field, helping Arizona finish 4-13 overall. In 2024, Murray completed 17-of-21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect passer rating in a Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the first player since 1974 to post a perfect rating with 250-plus passing yards and 50-plus rushing yards. He finished 2024 with 3,851 passing yards, 21 touchdowns, 572 rushing yards, and five rushing scores.
Driving Style and Strengths
Murray is widely recognized as one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, blending elite arm accuracy with explosive open-field running. His compact 5-foot-10 frame and quick release allow him to navigate tight pockets and extend plays, while his speed threatens defenses on designed runs and scrambles alike. He ranks fifth all-time in NFL completion percentage among quarterbacks with at least 1,500 pass attempts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murray’s career is highlighted by the 2018 Heisman Trophy, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick selection, and the 2020 “Hail Murray” touchdown against Buffalo. He is the first athlete ever drafted in the first round of both the NFL and MLB, and he scored his 100th career touchdown in 2022, becoming the 12th fastest player in league history to reach that mark.
Kyler Murray Career Wins
Although quarterback wins are a team statistic, Murray has engineered numerous memorable victories throughout his NFL career. He led the Cardinals to a 7-0 start in 2021 and orchestrated multiple fourth-quarter comebacks, including the “Hail Murray” win over the Buffalo Bills in 2020. His prime-time performances against teams like the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and Los Angeles Rams have become defining moments of his tenure in Arizona.
Arizona Cardinals Highlights
Murray has led Arizona to multiple signature wins, including a 37-34 overtime victory over the previously undefeated Seattle Seahawks in 2020 and a 33-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles the same year. In 2021, he helped snap an eight-game losing streak to the Los Angeles Rams with a 37-20 victory. His 32-30 comeback against the Buffalo Bills, sealed by the “Hail Murray” play, remains one of the most dramatic regular-season finishes in recent memory.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the high school level, Murray led Allen High School to three straight Texas state championships and finished 42-0 as a starting quarterback. In college, he led Oklahoma to the 2018 Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff appearance, capping the year with the Heisman Trophy. He was also named the 2014 Gatorade Football Player of the Year.
Kyler Murray Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Football runs deep in Murray’s family. His father, Kevin Murray, was a quarterback at Texas A&M from 1983 to 1986, and his uncle, Calvin Murray, played professional baseball for the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and Chicago Cubs. His cousin, Devin Duvernay, is a wide receiver who has played in the NFL. Murray’s maternal grandmother is a South Korean national, giving him a diverse family heritage rooted in athletics.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Murray is known for his love of chess, having won school tournaments as a child and competed in multiple Chess.com BlitzChamps grand finals. He is also an avid gamer and signed with FaZe Clan in April 2021, later partnering with Call of Duty to promote Black Ops 6 in October 2024. Murray is a Christian and has credited chess with helping him develop the mental focus required to play quarterback at a high level.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with promise for Murray and the Arizona Cardinals, as he continued to operate as the team’s franchise quarterback. In Week 2, he completed 17-of-21 passes for 266 yards and three touchdowns with a perfect passer rating in a 41-10 win over the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the first player since 1974 to achieve a perfect rating with 250-plus passing yards and 50-plus rushing yards. He added another standout performance in Week 10 against the New York Jets, going 22-for-24 for 266 yards and three total touchdowns, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Murray’s season took a difficult turn in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, when he suffered a foot injury that forced him to miss time. He was placed on injured reserve on November 5, 2025, ruling him out until December. On December 5, 2025, the Cardinals announced that Murray would miss the remainder of the season, ending his 2025 campaign prematurely.
Despite the early finish, Murray remained under contract with Arizona through 2027 on his five-year, $230.5 million extension. The Cardinals are expected to build their 2026 plans around Murray’s recovery and continued development as a dual-threat leader, hoping to return to the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2024 and 2025.