Kyler Murray named starting quarterback for Minnesota Vikings after signing veteran minimum contract
Quarterback Kyler Murray, released by the Arizona Cardinals, signed a veteran-minimum deal with the Minnesota Vikings and was announced as the team's starter for the 2026 season.
Kyler Murray, the former No. 1 overall pick who spent seven seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, signed a veteran-minimum contract with the Minnesota Vikings and was named the team's starting quarterback on Tuesday. The Vikings made the move after releasing Murray from the Cardinals, which incurred $54.7 million in dead-money charges.
Murray, a former Heisman Trophy winner and high-school standout from Allen, Texas, had previously been a backup in Arizona before the team cut him. He will now compete for the starting role after the Vikings' previous starter was among the league's lowest-rated quarterbacks last season.
Former Cardinals running back Chase Edmonds, who played with Murray in Arizona, said the quarterback appears motivated by the new challenge. > "He’s the ultimate competitor and this is the hungriest version of Kyler we’ve seen," Edmonds said.
Former Cardinals coach Autry Denson described Murray as a player who responds to intense coaching and competition. > "When you challenge him, he pushes back and wants to prove his point," Denson said.
The Vikings' front office believes the combination of organizational structure and talent could allow Murray to thrive, though some observers note the outcome remains uncertain. A veteran player on the Vikings' 2025 roster cautioned that the team's performance could vary widely, stating, > "It could be really good, or it could be really bad. There is no middle ground."
Murray's contract and starting designation mark the latest development in the Vikings' efforts to improve after a disappointing 2025 season that saw the team miss the playoffs.