Kyler Murray was raised deep in the heart of Texas, where fandom for the Dallas Cowboys is something akin to religion. But he played tackle football for a youth team named the Vikings and found himself gravitating toward the NFL version.
It became so ingrained in Murray, in fact, that he can still remember where he was on Jan. 24, 2010, when the Vikings lost to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship Game. He was 12 years old and felt his heart break when Brett Favre was picked by Tracy Porter in the final seconds of regulation.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I cried real tears when Brett threw that interception,” Murray said. “I cried real tears.”
It’s something that Murray can laugh about in hindsight. Especially after signing with the Vikings as a free agent.
The fact that he will soon get to play for the Vikings after spending most of his childhood cheering for them genuinely seemed to get to the 28-year-old quarterback as he processed everything in real time.
“I cannot wait,” Murray said. “I cannot wait to touch that field and be a Minnesota Viking.”
The process played out quickly for the first overall pick in the 2019 draft. He was released by the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday afternoon and almost immediately hopped on a plane destined for Minnesota. After visiting with the Vikings on Thursday afternoon, he decided to put pen to paper.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity,” Murray said. “I can’t wait to get to work.”
It’s a one-year, $1.3 million deal for Murray, a bargain for the Vikings thanks to the structure of his contract with the Cardinals, which leaves Arizona on the hook for almost all of the $36.8 million in fully guaranteed money he’s owed. There’s a clause in his current contract that ensures the Vikings from using their franchise tag on him, giving Murray a path to free agency if he wants it.
ADVERTISEMENT
If there were any assurances given to Murray that he’s going to start over J.J. McCarthy, he didn’t tip his hand. Asked how he’s approaching the current situation, Murray replied, “I look forward to coming in and competing.”
It was a similar tone from head coach Kevin O’Connell. He sidestepped a couple of questions about Murray and McCarthy before eventually making it abundantly clear that he won’t be publicly naming a starter anytime soon.
“As we approach training camp and we have a clear vision of how we want to best maximize those reps, maybe we’ll have some clarity at that point,” O’Connell said. “We’re still going to want to make sure all of those guys are in a situation where they can keep ascending.”
As he reflected on his decision, Murray emphasized how much he’s looking forward to working with O’Connell, referencing their relationship that dates back more than a decade. They first met when Murray was participating in the Elite 11 football camp as a teenager and reconnected at the NFL Combine when O’Connell was working for the Washington Commanders.
“He pulled me aside after my meeting with them and ever since then he’s always made sure to check in on me after games,” Murray said. “I’ve always appreciated his opinion and the support that he’s given me.”
Though some people believe it’s a clunky fit for the Vikings from a schematic standpoint, O’Connell pushed back on the notion that Murray is strictly a freelancer who can’t play in the rhythm of an offense.
“I think he’s really learned to play with very, very solid fundamentals,” O’Connell said. “The ability to make a lot of throws in the pocket is absolutely paired with the ability to be a real weapon with his athleticism.”
ADVERTISEMENT
As for Murray, he’s watched from afar as O’Connell has helped get the most out of Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold, and even Daniel Jones. It’s safe to say Murray feels pretty good as he starts his own journey under the tutelage of O’Connell.
“I don’t want to put any limitations on what that looks like,” Murray said. “He’s had a tremendous amount of success with multiple different quarterbacks.”
After noting that he wouldn’t put a ceiling on himself in terms of expectations, Murray once again highlighted how excited he is to be with the Vikings. If only he could talk to that 12-year-old kid who cried real tears. He’d tell him that everything turned out OK.
“Never in a million years did I think that this was going to come around full circle,” Murray said. “Not even a thought in my head.”
Fittingly, Murray took to social media shortly after his deal became official. He posted a picture of himself now alongside a picture of himself suited up for the youth team that sparked his love for the Vikings once upon a time. The caption was short and sweet.
“Skol.”
____________________________________
This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here.