An era is officially set to come to an end with the announcement on Tuesday that the Arizona Cardinals plan to release quarterback Kyler Murray on March 11.
While his 38-48-1 record as a starter and just one winning season in Arizona don’t scream success, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick also earned back-to-back Pro Bowl nods and was an NFL Rookie of the Year, with plenty of highlight-reel moments across his Cardinals tenure.
Here’s a look at the top 10 plays of Murray’s Cardinals career as his chapter in Arizona comes to an end:
No. 10
At the tail end of the 2023 season, Murray went into the home of the defending NFC Champions and threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns to lift the 3-12 Cardinals and then-head coach Jonathan Gannon past his former team in the Philadelphia Eagles.
The 21-6 comeback couldn’t have been completed if not for the signal caller evading pressure and setting up a spectacular catch from James Conner for a five-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.
KYLER MURRAY AND JAMES CONNER MAGIC.
📺: #AZvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/duOchEgx4j— NFL (@NFL) December 31, 2023
No. 9
When the Cardinals drafted Marvin Harrison Jr. in the 2024 NFL Draft, the football world was abuzz regarding the potential connection between Murray and the No. 4 overall pick.
A week after only catching one pass for four yards in his rookie debut, Week 2 of the 2024 season against the Los Angeles Rams saw Harrison record his first touchdown as a Cardinal on a 23-yard dime.
MARVIN HARRISON JR.’S FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWN HAS ARRIVED pic.twitter.com/EFquDWaM8V
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
Four plays later, Murray threw his way again where Harrison turned a 40-yard lob into a 60-yard dash to the end zone. The rookie wideout finished the second game of his career with 130 yards and two touchdowns on four receptions.
Marvin Harrison Jr. we love you pic.twitter.com/GE6a9vVabw
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
No. 8
Every Cardinals fan remembers where they were for the team’s Thursday Night thriller versus the Green Bay Packers in 2021, for better or worse.
Murray throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions played a large part in a 24-21 defeat that dampened Arizona’s 7-0 start. However, the quarterback started off hot with an incredible pass to DeAndre Hopkins while having a defender in his face to set up a Chase Edmonds touchdown.
This throw and catch by @K1 and @DeAndreHopkins 🔥
📺: #GBvsAZ on NFLN/FOX/PRIME VIDEO
📱: https://t.co/LjvhBMbwf9 pic.twitter.com/jcbflUzO9X— NFL (@NFL) October 29, 2021
No. 7
What better way to end the opening drive of a crucial divisional matchup on the road against the San Francisco 49ers than by taking a read option 50 yards to the house?
Considering he hit a top speed of 21.27 mph, Murray only needed a couple of yards before letting the opposition know that they weren’t going to catch him. The score on the ground was one of two total touchdowns from Murray in a 24-23 win.
you’ve got to watch this again pic.twitter.com/ePVUmniAac
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 6, 2024
No. 6
The second of seven consecutive victories to open up Arizona’s 2021 campaign came in a home game versus the Minnesota Vikings where Murray racked up over 400 total yards and four touchdowns.
Down 20-7 entering the second quarter, the quarterback helped the Cardinals score 14 unanswered points, highlighted by a 77-yard touchdown pass to the late Rondale Moore.
KYLER MURRAY IS ELECTRIC. #AZCardinals
📺: #MINvsAZ on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/MQ2THg6Qau— NFL (@NFL) September 19, 2021
No. 5
After tearing his ACL in 2022 and missing the first nine games of the 2023 season, Murray made his return against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Stadium.
No play from his thrilling performance stands out more than his 13-yard scramble to move the chains with under two minutes and position to Cardinals to eventually prevail, 25-23, on a game-winning field goal.
Kyler ran and ran and ran until he got the first down 😳 @K1
📺: #ATLvsAZ on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/kECSNGc6Bj pic.twitter.com/beWCv5etrq— NFL (@NFL) November 13, 2023
No. 4
The only way to properly describe Murray’s three-touchdown performance in Week 2 of 2024 is video-game like. What else is there to say about a 32-yard bomb to Harrison Jr. on a backfoot sideline throw right in the face of a blitzing Rams defender?
Marv down there somewhere pic.twitter.com/iPa9UVsfOM
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 15, 2024
No. 3
Our final entry from the Cardinals 41-10 romp of the Rams comes from Murray’s final touchdown pass of the game. The 18-yard strike to Elijah Higgins included evading three defenders before delivering a near-perfect ball to the back of the end zone.
KYLER MURRAY ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 😱
📺: #LARvsAZ on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gfHzqbrZ0w— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Murray ended the game with 17 completions on 21 attempts, 266 passing yards and three touchdowns. He also became the third quarterback in Cardinals history to finish with a perfect passer rating.
No. 2
In a 2023 Week 2 match in Las Vegas, the Cardinals overcame a 20-point deficit to win 29-23 in overtime thanks to several superhuman plays from Murray.
In particular, one currently sits in the NFL record books as a result of the signal caller dancing around the Raiders defense for 20 seconds for the longest two-point conversion in league history.
MURRAY MAGIC!!!!!!!!!@K1 X #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/6lwMSQVP1r
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) September 18, 2022
No. 1
There’s no denying that Murray’s legacy in Arizona will always include what happened on Nov. 15, 2020.
The 43-yard prayer turned game-winning touchdown to Hopkins over the Buffalo Bills for the “Hail Murray” is the inarguable highlight of the quarterback’s seven years as an Arizona Cardinal.
#OTD 2 years ago, the ‘Hail Murray’ was born. @K1 x @DeAndreHopkins pic.twitter.com/H89HtIlGA8
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) November 15, 2022
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