Kyler Murray is involved in one of the league’s tightest quarterback battles with J.J. McCarthy. Murray, who joined the Minnesota Vikings after being released by the Arizona Cardinals in March, is reportedly the favorite to become the team’s starting quarterback next season.
Lincoln Riley Tabs Kyler Murray for Success in Minnesota
In an interview with The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, Murray’s former college football coach Lincoln Riley tabbed him to succeed in Minnesota and predicted that Vikings fans would enjoy watching the quarterback play for their team.
“When that was first starting to come together, I was really excited,” Riley said. “The organization he’s a part of, how that organization works, how that organization is coached, how that organization goes about their things on a day-to-day basis is a lot different.
“He wants to do it at the highest level, and he wants to be surrounded by that. If I were a Vikings fan. I’d be licking my chops seeing how motivated this cat is right now. It is off the charts.”
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Murray played for the Texas A&M Aggies as a freshman in 2015 before joining coach Riley’s Oklahoma Sooners in 2016 after losing the QB1 battle in College Station. He missed the entire 2016 season due to NCAA rules and sat behind the reigning Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield in 2017 before finally getting his opportunity the next year.
In his first full season as a starter under Riley, Murray led the Sooners to a Big 12 championship, and he also won the Heisman Trophy after registering 4,361 passing yards on 69% completion, 42 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, while adding 1,001 rushing yards and 12 scores.
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Murray was selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Cardinals and, during a seven-year stint in Arizona, earned two Pro Bowl selections.
In an injury-hit 2025 season in Arizona, Murray managed 962 passing yards on 68.3% completion, 6 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while adding 173 rushing yards and 1 score.
On the other hand, after being selected No. 10 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Vikings, McCarthy suffered a torn meniscus in preseason, ruling him out for the rest of his rookie season. He became the Vikings’ starter under center in 2025 after Sam Darnold joined the Seattle Seahawks.
McCarthy earned a PFN QB Impact score of 67.0, ranking him at No. 34 in the NFL after tallying 1,632 passing yards on 57.6% completion, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while adding 181 rushing yards and 4 scores. He led the Vikings to a 6-4 record in games started last season.
