The Arizona Cardinals put up their best performance of the 2025 season on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cardinals’ offense clicked against one of the worst defenses in the NFL, and Arizona’s defense shut down Dallas’ top 3 offense in the NFL.
However, that raised the question postgame of who would start for the Cardinals going forward. But, coach Jonathan Gannon shut that down right away.
Will Kyler Murray Be the Cardinals’ Starter Again?
The simple answer is yes, according to Gannon.
The Cardinals coach was asked after Monday night’s game if Kyler Murray would remain the starting quarterback when healthy.
“Yeah, nothing’s changed on that,” Gannon said. “Yeah, I got nothing to add on that, guys.”
You could tell the frustration in Gannon’s blunt response, but it’s a question everyone is asking right now. In fact, many disagree with Gannon’s decision.
The Cardinals opened the season 2-0 with Murray at quarterback, but then lost five straight games. Arizona’s offense averaged 20.6 points per game in Murray’s starts.
Jacoby Brissett took over as the starter after Murray sustained an ankle injury in Week 5. The Cardinals have gone 1-2 since Brissett has been the starter, but the two losses have come against tough opponents, and the Cardinals are averaging 25.7 points per game.
It’s understandable to want to stick with Murray because he’s supposed to be the franchise quarterback for the future and signed a five-year, $230.5 million extension in 2022.
However, you can’t argue with the calm, veteran, and dynamic presence Brissett has brought to the offense.
“I don’t get into that stuff man,” Brissett said, regarding the Cardinals’ starting quarterback spot. “I’m just trying to come out here and win games, be a good teammate and do the best that I can when I get my opportunity. That’s all I can ask for.”
Brissett, in his three games this year, is ranked No. 10 in the NFL among all quarterbacks, according to PFSN’s QB Impact. The veteran starter ranks No. 12 in passing yards per game, No. 2 in third-down conversion percentage, and has thrown just one interception.
The Cardinals finished 7-for-13 on third downs against the Cowboys on Monday night, which was a significant factor in their offensive success.
Arizona’s offensive playmakers have also thrived with Brissett at the helm. Star tight end Trey McBride has had two of his three games with more than 70 receiving yards this year with Brissett at quarterback.
The Cardinals’ tight end had one touchdown through five weeks with Murray, and has four touchdowns through three weeks with Brissett.
Marvin Harrison Jr. had his best game of the year against the Cowboys, collecting seven receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown.
However, even though the offense has seen an uptick with Brissett under center, the increase of Cardinals playmakers being involved is also due to play-calling, which falls on offensive coordinator Drew Petzing.
It’s not like the Cardinals couldn’t do anything right with Murray under center. Arizona has led in the fourth quarter in seven of its eight games this season. No Cardinals loss this year has been by more than four points.
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The Cowboys would have been the perfect matchup to get Murray back on the field and thriving, but he wasn’t healthy enough to go. That meant Brissett had another opportunity to prove why he could be the starter, and he did just that.
Gannon is continuing to stick by his decision in Murray, but if Brissett continues to play this well, that decision becomes increasingly complex.