If the Pittsburgh Steelers have a new quarterback in 2026, it won’t be Kyler Murray.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Murray signed a 1-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday.
“The deal includes a no-tag clause,” Pelissero also reported. “Murray will make $36.8 million this season, with Arizona paying all but the minimum salary.”
The Vikings signed Murray the same way the Steelers inked quarterback Russell Wilson to a contract two years ago.
In 2024, the Denver Broncos owed Wilson $39 million. So, he agreed to play for the Steelers at $1.21 million, forcing the Broncos to still pay him $37.79 million.
In Murray’s case, he will get about $1.3 million from the Vikings and $35.5 from the Arizona Cardinals during 2026.
NFL insiders continuously called the Vikings the favorites to land Murray in free agency. With that in mind, this signing doesn’t come as a surprise.
But still, it’s likely to frustrate some Steelers fans and national pundits who don’t favor the team bringing back Rodgers.
Kyler Murray Signs With Vikings: Report
Pundits considered the Vikings the favorites for Murray after reporting the team would be in the quarterback market this spring. Former first-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy struggled during his first year as a starter last season.
At the very least, analysts expected the Vikings to bring in competition for McCarthy. They did more than that, as Murray will likely start ahead of the ex-No. 10 overall pick.
Murray was sometimes one of the most electric quarterbacks in the league while with the Cardinals. In 2020 and 2021, he earned Pro Bowl nominations after winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
From 2020-21, Murray led Arizona to a 17-13 record with a 68.1% completion percentage and 7.5 yards per pass. He also threw 50 touchdowns versus 22 interceptions.
On the ground, he ran for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, during those two seasons.
That’s why Murray landed a 5-year, $230 million deal which began during the 2024 season.
But things went south for Murray beginning in 2022. Over his final four seasons with the team, he went 16-25 in his 41 starts. He continued to post a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio, but his yards per attempt average dropped to 6.6.
Murray was still dynamic on the ground, but as he has aged, he has run less often, leading to lower production on the ground overall.
In Minnesota, he will try to resurrect his career under one of the brightest offensive minds in Kevin O’Connell. Sam Darnold completely turned around his career with the Vikings two years ago.
With Murray signed, though, the Steelers have one fewer free agent option at quarterback.
Is Kyler Murray Signing With the Vikings Good News for Steelers?
The answer to that question depends on one’s perspective.
The important thing to note, though, is it’s not clear the Steelers were interested in Murray.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport reported Murray spoke to 3-5 teams through Zoom this week. However, the insiders didn’t mention which teams those were besides the Vikings.
Murray’s first visit with a team was in Minnesota. He didn’t leave before signing a contract.
This is actually all good news for the Steelers for those in favor of the team bringing back Rodgers.
Early in the offseason, pundits rumored the Vikings to be a potential landing spot for Rodgers in free agency. The quarterback himself told Pat McAfee in an interview last week he will have a couple options as a free agent.
So, yes, the Steelers have one fewer quarterback option on the open market without Murray. But with the former Cardinals signal-caller landing with the Vikings, Rodgers lost a potential destination too.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio speculated Thursday that Murray’s former team, Arizona, could be a spot for Rodgers next season. But given the Cardinals are rebuilding, that doesn’t appear to make a lot of sense.
If Rodgers elects to play, his best bet is probably a return to the Steelers. The team is waiting on him to decide his future while other teams sign quarterbacks.
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