Kyler Murray
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears looks on prior to a game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears will likely have a new quarterback they’ll face off against two times a season in the NFC North, with the Minnesota Vikings in hot pursuit and current favorites to sign former Arizona Cardinals No. 1 overall pick, QB Kyler Murray.
Murray, who signed a massive five-year extension worth $230.5 million back in 2022, was cut by Arizona after seven seasons with the team.
“With today’s start of the new league year and transactions now official, we want to thank Kyler for everything he has done for this organization over the last seven years,” Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort said. “We are extremely grateful for his contributions both on the field and off and we wish him nothing but the absolute best moving forward.”
Now that Murray is free to explore his options on the open market, ESPN’s Adam Schefter not only said the Vikings are considered the “overwhelming favorite to sign him,” but a source also had this to say:
“I’d be shocked if he’s not a Viking.”
Vikings Closing in on Signing QB Kyler Murray
It’s not just Schefter saying the Vikings are the favorites. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport also added that the Vikings plan to make a push for Murray and are the favorites to sign him.
Tom Pelissero
The Vikings plan to make a push for Kyler Murray and are the favorite to land the former No. 1 overall pick, sources tell me and @RapSheet.
Finally released today by Arizona, Murray will take his time and wants to speak with interested teams. But Minnesota is the team to beat.
The Athletic’s Michael Silver had this to say about the Vikings’ connection with Murray:
“[Kevin] O’Connell will roll with Murray, who’s nine years younger than Cousins and possesses a far more dynamic skill set. In doing so, O’Connell will demonstrate vulnerability by essentially admitting a failure. Despite a dramatic debut last September, J.J. McCarthy, the 10th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, clearly isn’t regarded (by O’Connell or anyone else) as the Vikings’ long-term answer at quarterback.”
What This Means for the Bears
To say Murray is an upgrade over McCarthy shouldn’t be a hot take. He is, and having a head coach like O’Connell should be a major help for the former 2019 No. 1 pick who’s thrown for over 20,000 yards and 121 touchdowns in seven seasons.
Minnesota is grappling with a quarterback identity crisis, seemingly giving up on McCarthy, who was drafted in the first round back in 2024 with only 10 starts in Minnesota.
Signing Murray will make Minnesota a better team, and former NFL player Logan Ryan sees him having an impactful season in 2026 if he does end up with the Vikings.
“You’re talking about the quarterback position, the most valuable position in our sport.You’re talking about a 28-year-old [and] you’re talking about two Pro Bowls, the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and the Heisman Trophy winner. I mean, that’s not potential. That’s just a Latin word for ‘haven’t done anything.’ That’s production. Kyler Murray has had a ton of it.
Obviously, he hasn’t fallen off here. He has had some injuries, and that’s the reason why he is wherehe’s at. But you’re talking about the skill set of this guy. You’re talking about the ability. If you put him with the Minnesota Vikings right away, with that offensive staff and those receivers, that’s scary. Kyler Murray can get back to the Pro Bowl next year.”
The best thing for the Bears to do is focus on themselves and work on building off the success they had from last season and cleaning up the mistakes that were made. What Minnesota chooses to do or not to do is not something Chicago needs to worry about, and if Murray is indeed a Viking, the Bears will need to give him a harsh reality that playing against Chicago two times a year won’t be fun.