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| Kyler Murray | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kyler Murray |
| Birth date | August 7, 1997 |
| Birth place | Bedford, Texas, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in |
| Weight | 207 lb |
| Position | Quarterback |
| College | Oklahoma |
| Nfl draft | 2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1 |
| Current team | Arizona Cardinals |
Kyler Murray is an American professional football player who plays as a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). A former Oklahoma Sooners standout and 2018 Heisman Trophy winner, he was selected first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. Murray is noted for his dual-threat athleticism, having been a top prospect in both American football and baseball.
Born in Bedford, Texas, Murray attended Allen High School after transferring from Southlake Carroll and Mansfield Legacy High School. At Allen he played under coach Todd Dodge and competed alongside teammates who went on to play for Ohio State and Oklahoma State. He was a four-star recruit in football and a top-ranked prospect in baseball, drawing collegiate attention from Texas, Texas A&M, USC, and Oklahoma. In baseball he was scouted by Major League Baseball (MLB) organizations, earning interest from the Oakland Athletics and later the Seattle Mariners.
Murray began his collegiate career at Texas A&M University under coach Kevin Sumlin before transferring to the University of Oklahoma to play for coach Lincoln Riley. At Oklahoma he succeeded Baker Mayfield and played alongside teammates such as Marquise Brown and CeeDee Lamb. Murray won the Heisman Trophy in 2018, joining a lineage that includes Baker Mayfield, Johnny Manziel, and Cam Newton. He led the Sooners to Big 12 Conference championships and appearance in the College Football Playoff, facing programs like Clemson and Alabama. Murray was also a standout in college baseball for the Sooners baseball program and appeared on watch lists connected to Major League Baseball Draft scouts.
Murray declared for the 2019 NFL Draft and was selected first overall by the Arizona Cardinals—a pick that followed selections like Kyler Murray's draft class peers Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, and Deandre Baker. He signed a rookie contract under the framework of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement and began his career playing for head coach Kliff Kingsbury and later coaches including Jonathan Gannon and Jonathan Gruden (note: Gruden not head coach of Cardinals—see coaching transitions). Murray earned NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration and later won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year conversation after posting Pro Bowl-level seasons. During his tenure, the Cardinals competed against teams like the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and Buffalo Bills. Murray's professional milestones include leading the Cardinals to playoff contention and earning selections to the Pro Bowl.
Murray’s playing style blends speed and arm talent, drawing comparisons to quarterbacks such as Russell Wilson, Cam Newton, Michael Vick, and Lamar Jackson. Analysts from outlets aligned with the Associated Press and ESPN have highlighted his mobility, improvisational pocket presence, and ability to extend plays with both designed runs and scramble conversions. Offensive coordinators from the NFL and college ranks, including those who coached at Oklahoma and in the NFL, have schemed read-option packages, RPO concepts, and play-action passes to maximize his dual-threat capabilities. Critics have discussed pass-duration metrics, pocket presence, and decision-making relative to veterans like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.
Murray is the son of Kevin Murray, a former Texas A&M quarterback, and his family has roots in New Iberia, Louisiana. He is represented by agents who have negotiated with Major League Baseball teams and NFL franchises. Murray has engaged in charitable activities with foundations associated with the Arizona Cardinals and community organizations in Phoenix, Arizona. Off the field, he has had public interactions with figures from Major League Baseball who followed his dual-sport decisions, and he maintains relationships with former college teammates who became NFL roster members across franchises such as the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders.
Murray’s statistics include passing yards, passing touchdowns, rushing yards, and rushing touchdowns accrued across regular seasons and postseason games versus opponents such as the New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, and Detroit Lions. He has set franchise records for the Arizona Cardinals in single-season passing efficiency and rookie-year rushing for a quarterback, joining Cardinals recordholders like Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer in franchise leaderboards. League-wide, Murray ranks among active quarterbacks in yards per attempt and rushing touchdowns. His collegiate records at Oklahoma include single-season passer ratings and efficiency metrics previously held by Baker Mayfield and predecessors in the Big 12 Conference.
Category:1997 births Category:American football quarterbacks Category:Oklahoma Sooners football players Category:Arizona Cardinals players Category:Heisman Trophy winners