Kyler Murray isn’t spending much time looking back at Arizona.
After Cardinals coach Mike LaFlauer said the team moved on from the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback “pretty quickly,” Murray brushed off the comment during an interview at Vikings training camp on Wednesday. He made it clear his attention is on Minnesota, not the place that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2019 and eventually let him go.
“I'm honestly not too worried about what's going on over there,” Murray said. “I'm focused on what I got going on here in Minnesota.
I'm glad to be here. Loved every part of being here and focused on the future.”
That response came months after the Cardinals released Murray, closing the door on a seven-year run that featured electric plays, but also lingering questions about consistency and fitness. Arizona’s decision to move on was further shaped by the arrival of LaFleur as head coach, and the coach has said the split was the best outcome for both sides.
Now Murray has a new lane in Minnesota, where he was named the Vikings’ starting quarterback for the 2026 season on Tuesday over J.J. McCarthy. It’s a significant turn for a player trying to reset his career after a Cardinals tenure that had plenty of highs and lows.
Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley also sounded enthusiastic about what Murray can bring when he spoke on SiriusXM on Wednesday. Teasley pointed to the fit between the quarterback and Minnesota’s offense, especially with the coaching staff in place.
“Really excited about what Kyler (Murray) can do in this system with this level of coaching,” Teasley said. “KO (Kevin O'Connell), Josh McCown, Frank Smith is on staff here; Wes Phillips. So, right then and there, you're really excited about the direction that you can go.
“And the intricacies of the system, being a wide zone scheme, that is gonna implement some keepers and use his athleticism, get him. outside of the pocket, that puts the defense in conflict. Just really excited about the direction that we're headed.”
Minnesota is hoping Murray can give the offense a lift similar to what Sam Darnold provided two seasons ago. After missing the playoffs last season, the Vikings are looking for a bounce-back year with Murray leading the way.
In Other News...
Cardinals May Have Found A Young Safety Ready For More
Kitan Crawford has spent his first year-plus in Arizona doing the kind of work that can be easy to miss until the staff starts talking about it. The second-year safety saw limited defensive snaps in 2025, but he made his presence felt on special teams and kept earning attention through training camp and preseason, where head coach Mike LaFleur and defensive coach Teryl Austin both praised his play style and development.
The Cardinals also got a clearer look at Crawford in their recent Hall of Fame Game, where Pro Football Focus graded him among their top performers. With Arizonas defensive scheme creating openings and injuries forcing the staff to sort through depth on the back end, Crawford appears positioned for a larger runway in 2026, and his trajectory is starting to look like more than just a special teams story. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Get First Look At A Raiders Dilemma Fans Should Watch
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Las Vegas still plans to open with veteran Kirk Cousins as its starter, but Mendozas first live action could shape how long that arrangement lasts. For Cardinals fans, the matchup is more than a summer exhibition - it is a chance to see whether the Raiders are already confronting a quarterback decision that could come much sooner than they thought. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Fans Just Got An Easier Way To Follow Camp Battles
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The broadcasts will include a 30-minute pregame show hosted by Mark McClune, with Paul Calvisi handling play-by-play, Sam Acho as analyst and Dani Sureck reporting from the sideline. The Cowboys game will also air on NFL Network using the Cardinals broadcast, and J.P. Shadrick and A.Q. Shipley will be on the radio call for both preseason and regular-season games, giving fans multiple ways to stay plugged in as the roster picture starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
