The Arizona Cardinals came into the 2025 season with hope - and for good reason. They’d patched up some glaring holes on the defensive line, Kyler Murray was back under center, and they were fresh off a respectable eight-win campaign. When they opened the season 2-0, it looked like they might be turning a corner.
But the optimism didn’t last.
Since that strong start, Arizona has unraveled. Injuries, inconsistency, and now, the uncertainty surrounding Kyler Murray’s future have clouded what was supposed to be a step-forward year.
The latest blow? Murray’s foot injury, which has lingered longer than expected, will now sideline him for the rest of the 2025 season.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed the news, and it’s raised serious questions about whether Murray has played his final snap in a Cardinals uniform.
There’s a growing sense around the league that Arizona is ready to move on - not necessarily because Murray can’t play, but because the fit just hasn’t worked out. He’s flashed elite potential at times, but overall, he’s hovered in that middle tier of NFL quarterbacks: good enough to win with, but not quite the game-changer the franchise hoped he’d become when they made him the No. 1 overall pick.
Still, let’s be clear: Kyler Murray is going to start somewhere in 2026. He’s a top-20 quarterback in this league with a dual-threat skill set that still gives defensive coordinators headaches. The only question now is - where?
Here are three logical landing spots that could make a move for the dynamic, if polarizing, quarterback.
Pittsburgh Steelers
If there’s one team that’s been spinning its wheels at quarterback since the end of the Ben Roethlisberger era, it’s the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’ve tried the patchwork approach - a little bit of Kenny Pickett, a dash of Mitch Trubisky, and now Aaron Rodgers - but none of it has provided long-term clarity.
Enter Kyler Murray.
A trade for Murray wouldn’t necessarily be a franchise-altering move for Pittsburgh, but it could stabilize the position while they search for their future QB1. Think of it like this: Murray buys them time. He’s young enough to still have upside, experienced enough to compete right away, and athletic enough to make plays when things break down - something the Steelers’ offense has sorely lacked.
Rodgers’ presence this season has been serviceable, but it’s clear the defense has carried more of the weight. Adding Murray could inject some energy into the offense and give the Steelers a legitimate bridge option - or maybe more, if he finds a groove in a new environment.
In the loaded AFC North, Murray wouldn’t be the top dog - Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson still run the show - but he’d be a clear upgrade over what Pittsburgh has had lately. And sometimes, a fresh start is all a talented player needs to tap back into their ceiling.
The Cardinals’ decision to move on from Murray - if it comes to that - won’t be easy. But it might be necessary.
They’ve seen what he can do. They’ve also seen the limitations.
And with a new regime looking to put its stamp on the roster, the time for a reset might be now.
As for Murray? His next chapter is coming. And if the right team takes the leap, they might just unlock the version of Kyler that once had the league buzzing.