Kyler Murray is looking to get his NFL career back on track with the Minnesota Vikings after the Arizona Cardinals decided to cut ties with the former No. 1 pick this offseason. Murray will look to follow in the footsteps of Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones and benefit from having Kevin O’Connell as his head coach.
As for the Vikings, they are rolling the dice, hoping O’Connell can tap into the player’s potential as Minnesota looks to improve its QB play for the 2026 NFL season.
Murray has flashed his potential, which made him the No. 1 pick in 2019. However, the 28-year-old has yet to put everything together to become a consistent top QB in the NFL.
Nonetheless, the Vikings received a positive message that they are getting a motivated Murray as the player’s former college head coach, Lincoln Riley, expects big things from the QB.
“Watch out for Kyler Murray in Minnesota,” Riley said on an April 17 appearance on “The Jim Rome Show.” “I love, love the pairing of him with Kevin O’Connell. I think Kevin’s fabulous. And watch out with those two together. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Moreover, Riley went into further detail about why he believes Murray will benefit from having O’Connell as his head coach.
“KOC is a good enough coach,“ Riley added. “He will figure out what is best for the skill sets he has. I know he is excited about Kyler Murray and his skill set. I know Murray is equally excited to join that type of organization, a championship-level organization from top to bottom that is run the right way.”
Can Vikings QB Kyler Murray Become the Next Baker Mayfield?
The USC Trojans head coach also noted that he sees a similar case in Murray to Baker Mayfield, who didn’t find his footing in the NFL despite being a high draft pick for the Cleveland Browns. However, after bouncing around a couple of teams, Mayfield finally found a home with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he has proven to be a starting QB in the league.
“When I look at it, I see the difference in Baker Mayfield’s career,“ Riley said. “He started in a different place and is now in a great situation in Tampa Bay. His career has really taken off.
“I believe the same thing will happen for Kyler Murray. I really do. This is a great fit with great skill players around him. KOC is an outstanding coach, and that organization is outstanding.
“Murray is ready and eager to play. I know he is healthy. He is a hungry player right now, I can promise you that. I cannot wait to see that pairing of Murray in Minnesota.”
Cardinals HC Explains Kyler Murray’s Exit This Offseason
After a foot injury ended his 2025 season, Arizona decided it was time for both parties to part ways. On March 30, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur spoke about Murray’s exit from Arizona.
“It’s one of those things that sometimes it’s just good for both parties to part ways, if you will,“ LaFleur told reporters (h/t Bo Brack of PHNX Cardinals). “So again, we wish him the best. He had a lot of success here.
“I know when I was on the other sideline, [Murray] was a problem. And again, wish him all the success, but we felt like this was the best thing moving forward.”
Lincoln Riley Doesn’t Hold Back on Vikings QB Kyler Murray