“I say let the world go to hell, but I should always have my tea,” Fyodor Dostoevsky once wrote. And who better to embody that mindset than Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray?
While the NFL world was buzzing with free agency news, Murray took some time to relax — this time in South Korea, the country of his maternal roots.
Kyler Murray Receives a Warm Welcome in South Korea
A video posted online shows Murray arriving at Incheon International Airport in Seoul, where a crowd of excited fans were waiting. They cheered as he walked through the terminal, with some holding up his Cardinals No. 1 jersey.
Murray made his way over to the fans, signing autographs as their cheers echoed throughout the airport.
Notably, Murray’s maternal grandmother is Korean, and his mother is of mixed African American and Korean descent. The women in his family have played a major role in shaping his cultural identity.
A meaningful tribute to his heritage, Murray wears the Taegeukgi — the South Korean flag — on the back of his helmet. He has also been vocal against anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States, further solidifying his popularity in Korea.
Arizona Cardinals Making Moves in Free Agency
While Murray enjoyed some time off, the Cardinals made a major move, signing Josh Sweat from the Philadelphia Eagles. Sweat inked a four-year, $76 million deal with $41 million guaranteed.
The move raised eyebrows since the Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champions, meaning Sweat had another shot at a title. However, fans shouldn’t be too surprised—he has a strong connection with former Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who is now Arizona’s head coach.
While Sweat isn’t regarded as an elite defensive player, he addresses a key weakness for Arizona, which struggled with defensive depth last season. It’s also worth noting that under Gannon’s leadership in Philadelphia, Sweat earned his only Pro Bowl selection, posting 18.5 total sacks and 36 quarterback hits between 2021 and 2022.
With Murray recharging in Korea and Sweat helping to solidify the defense, Gannon and his squad might finally be ready to make some noise this season.