Kyler Murray is officially a free agent after the Arizona Cardinals decided to release the 2019 first overall pick on Wednesday.
Despite earning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award and two Pro Bowl nods in his first three NFL seasons, Murray's production and reliability tailed off significantly in the last few years, with injuries and poor performances piling up.
The Bedford, Texas native made just five starts in 2025, going 2-3 while throwing for 962 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. Murray lost his starting job partway through the season to Jacoby Brissett, virtually signaling the end of his tenure in Arizona.
Murray is now set to consider his options in free agency, carefully choosing the franchise that he'll hope can get the best back out of him. But could Murray put his NFL career on hold to pursue another sport?
Kyler Murray, the Baseball Prodigy
Kyler Murray Baseball
Before he was chosen first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft and became a star quarterback, Murray was a dual-sport athlete at Oklahoma, splitting his time between football and baseball.
An outfielder, Murray notably hit 10 home runs and drove in 47 runs while slashing .296/.398/.954 in his final year in college. That same year, the diminutive athletic phenom won the Heisman Trophy after leading Oklahoma's football team to a College Football Playoff appearance.
Before he even made it to the NFL Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected Murray with the ninth overall pick of the 2018 MLB Draft, but let him play out his final football season at Oklahoma that fall. But Murray made it clear football came first.
"Football has been my love and passion my entire life," Murray said after entering the 2019 NFL Draft. "I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships."
Murray even signed a contract with the A's, including a $4.6 million signing bonus — which he has since partially repaid. But the Athletics, now playing out of Sacramento and nearing a move to Las Vegas, still own Murray's MLB rights.
So would Murray consider a move back to baseball?
Considering Murray hasn't played baseball since 2018, and has no experience in the professional ranks, it's hard to see why the former Cardinals star would make the jump and risk toiling in the minor leagues.
Still, he wouldn't be the first NFL player to switch to baseball. Football Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson found success in both sports, while some NFL standouts like Tim Tebow attempted careers in baseball. A number of quarterbacks, past and present, were dual-sport stars before joining the NFL, including Tom Brady, John Elway, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
Kyler Murray walking off field Related
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Kyler Murray is officially a free agent after the Arizona Cardinals decided to release the 2019 first overall pick on Wednesday.