Kyler Murray

Kyler Murray Addresses 2022 Struggles, Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon Hire

July 12th, 2023 at 10:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kyler Murray‘s 2022 hovered at the center of the Cardinals’ decision to reboot their operation this offseason. The team’s 4-13 record led to the franchise moving on from GM Steve Keim and HC Kliff Kingsbury, the decision-makers that chose Murray first overall in 2019. As the Monti Ossenfort–Jonathan Gannon regime takes over, Murray is rehabbing an ACL tear.

The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to miss regular-season time, though it is unknown how much of the year he will miss. This comes after a December injury, but Murray’s 2022 was not going well leading up to that abrupt conclusion. The contract request and controversial homework clause (which the team awkwardly removed soon after its inclusion) in the $230.5MM deal preceded an inconsistent season, one that also involved friction between Murray and Kingsbury.

“To hit a wall Year 4, especially after going through the whole contract thing, the energy, the aura, the vibes going into the season were all negative,” Murray said during the Cardinals’ Flight Plan series (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban). “Having to deal with all that stuff and trying to focus on football, and then I got Covid in camp, I hurt my wrist in camp so I missed a lot of reps, and having to play catch-up in the season, starting with the Chiefs, it was kind of a compilation of [expletive]-up things going on.

“… The whole [last] year was [expletive]. It happened for a reason. The things we were doing weren’t sustainable for success. It was necessary and in turn good will come out of what happened.”

Murray, who received $103.3MM fully guaranteed upon signing his extension last July, averaged a career-low 6.1 yards per attempt, threw just 14 touchdown passes and ranked 19th in QBR. The former Heisman winner has endured criticism for his lack of leadership and commitment, with the film-study clause bringing the latter issue to the forefront. He has also struggled with nagging injuries, missing three games in 2021 and two in 2022 prior to the knee malady.

Kingsbury and Murray were seen arguing during a Cards Thursday-night win over the Saints in October, and the relationship did not exactly improve from there. Kingsbury is now back at USC coaching under Lincoln Riley, who coached Murray at Oklahoma. After two seasons as the Eagles’ DC, Gannon is in place to lead a rebuild effort. Michael Bidwill gave Murray input as to who the Cardinals would hire as their next HC.

“They are really investing in the organization and the team. You run through a wall for that type of guy. That’s the energy he brings,” Murray said of Gannon. “… I think winning cures all, and it’s been tough to do that with some of the circumstances we’ve had to deal with. But I think we are headed in the right direction.”

Murray, who will turn 26 next month, is a near-lock to begin training camp on the active/PUP list, Urban adds. No firm timetable has emerged, though the fifth-year passer is believed to have suffered a clean tear. Still, it would not surprise to see the Cards proceed with caution, seeing as they are unlikely to field a contending team this season. Colt McCoy looms as the team’s most likely Week 1 starter, and it will be interesting to see if the team places Murray on its reserve/PUP list — a designation that would shelve the QB for at least four games — to start the season.

Cardinals Continue To Explore Trade-Down Move, Eyeing First-Round O-Linemen

April 25th, 2023 at 4:16pm CST by Sam Robinson

Even if the Texans follow through with a much-rumored effort to take a non-quarterback at No. 2 overall, one of the top two edge rushers — either Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson — would still be on the board for the Cardinals at 3. The team has front-seven holes, and mock drafts have often placed a top-flight edge prospect in this slot.

But the Cardinals continue to explore avenues to move down the board. Offensive line appears to be the top Cards concern heading into the draft, Todd McShay of ESPN.com notes. While a previous report indicated the Cardinals may be prepared to address this issue at No. 3 — by taking Ohio State tackle Paris Johnson — McShay adds the team is “borderline desperate” to move down.

Sliding down the board would seemingly better match Arizona with this year’s top O-linemen while providing the rebuilding team with additional assets. The Johnson rumors aside, McShay connects the team to having interest in Northwestern tackle/guard Peter Skoronski. The former Big Ten standout rates as Scouts Inc.’s No. 9 overall prospect, with Johnson sitting 12th. Kyler Murray has spoken highly of Johnson, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, with SI.com’s Albert Breer also indicating the team is quite taken with the two-year Buckeyes starter. Johnson visited the Cardinals as well.

Though, some teams are believed to place a higher value on Johnson, who is projected to stay at tackle. Skoronski is viewed by many as a player who will make a Brandon Scherff-like transition by going early in the first round but being shifted from tackle to guard before his first NFL game. Teams are generally reluctant to draft a guard especially early, though the Scherff (No. 5, 2015) and Quenton Nelson (No. 6, 2018) choices panned out. The Cardinals’ connections to the Big Ten blockers may lead to the team setting a floor regarding how low it is willing to drop in a trade.

The Cardinals have their tackle tandem of the past three years — D.J. Humphries–Kelvin Beachum — under contract, though Humphries missed much of last season and Beachum is going into his age-34 campaign. The team did lose guard Justin Pugh to an ACL tear and has not re-signed him. Guard Will Hernandez did re-sign, however. It is worth wondering if the Cardinals taking an O-lineman in the top 10 would affect one of the veterans’ statuses.

The team, which has needed a cornerback since Patrick Peterson‘s 2021 free agency departure, is also interested in Devon Witherspoon, per Breer. With Witherspoon a candidate to go midway through the top 10, the Cardinals would need to take a measured approach with a trade-down effort. If the team cannot find a trade partner, Wilson may be in play. The team passed the Texas Tech edge rusher on a pre-draft physical, Breer adds.

A few teams have been mentioned as candidates to trade up for a quarterback. The Titans (No. 11), Falcons (No. 8) and Raiders (No. 7) are among them. The Cardinals are believed to have spoken with at least six teams about a potential trade. The Texans passing on C.J. Stroud — assuming the Panthers indeed take Bryce Young — would stand to help the Cardinals find a trade partner, and Will Levis‘ late rise may as well.

With a need at quarterback, the Texans have the more interesting decision to make Thursday. The Cardinals having Murray lowers the stakes for their pick, but new GM Monti Ossenfort may have a complex process to navigate during his first draft night.

Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon Addresses Kyler Murray’s Recovery

April 10th, 2023 at 10:03am CST by Adam La Rose

Much of the speculation pertaining to the Cardinals at the moment is centered on wideout DeAndre Hopkins, but the health of quarterback Kyler Murray is a key storyline to monitor during the offseason. New head coach Jonathan Gannon recently spoke on the latter, who is continuing to recover from a torn ACL and meniscus.

The injury is expected to keep Murray off the field for at least the early portion of the 2023 campaign, with the team no doubt eyeing a cautious approach with the franchise signal-caller. Gannon offered a small but optimistic update on the subject of Murray’s recovery from surgery indicating that things are headed in the right direction early in the process.

“He was in Dallas with his surgeon [recently], and he’s doing well,” the rookie HC said, via Bobby Kownack of NFL.com. “They like where he’s at. He’s going to start doing some things in the strength room. He’s coming along well.”

Murray, 25, struggled along with nearly every Arizona player in 2022 as the team went through a disastrous campaign. The former No. 1 pick is under contract via the massive extension he signed last offseason, though, and is thus in the Cardinals’ long-term plans. Murray’s presence was a key factor in Gannon’s decision to depart the NFC champion Eagles for what is likely to be a rebuilding effort in the desert.

In the short-term, Gannon and the rest of his staff must decide on an interim starter under center until Murray’s return, something Gannon will have the final say on. Arizona has veterans Colt McCoy and David Blough as options, though the former has more familiarity with the team. In any case, a plan will be in place for the pocket passer tapped to fill in at the start of the season.

“Obviously whoever’s out there playing quarterback for us isn’t going to have the same skill set that Kyler has,” Gannon added. “So we’ll just tailor-fit what we’re doing with the offense around that guy, and then when Kyler gets back in, we’ll tailor-fit the offense around him.”

Doing so will present a challenge to Arizona’s offensive staff led by first-time coordinator Drew Petzing. If Gannon’s optimism (which comes after that expressed by owner Michael Bidwill) ends up being well-placed, though, a relatively short absence on Murray’s part could be possible.

Michael Bidwill Included Kyler Murray In Cardinals’ HC Search, Expects QB To Make Early-Season Return

February 23rd, 2023 at 1:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jonathan Gannon said he would not have taken the Cardinals’ HC job without Kyler Murray in place, and the Pro Bowl quarterback contributed to the search that produced Gannon.

Michael Bidwill mentioned Murray, Budda Baker and Zach Ertz as players he spoke to regarding the team’s long-running coach search, doing so while also speaking with multiple sources outside the team. Bidwill said during an appearance on the Dave Pasch Podcast (via AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban) he wanted to get a “360-degree view” of each GM and HC candidate.

The owner also tried to downplay concerns Murray might not be available until around midseason. Bidwill expects the franchise QB to be back earlier than the midpoint, calling the fifth-year passer “ahead of schedule.”

“I think [his return] is going to be earlier than this midseason, so hopefully it’s toward the beginning of the season, but I don’t want to put any specific dates,” Bidwill said. “There could be setbacks; the progress could slow. But he’s a young man; it looks like he is a fast healer. Things are going well. Let’s hope that keeps going the way it is.”

Months away from Murray being receiving clearance post-ACL surgery, it is too early to put a precise return date on this process. The Cardinals gave extensions to Murray, Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury last year. The result led to a staff overhaul, but Murray’s contract stipulates he will not be going anywhere. The 25-year-old passer, whose $46.1MM-per-year deal runs through 2028, has been rehabbing every day at the team facility, per Bidwill.

This offseason will feature two NFC West teams not having their preferred starter at workouts, with Murray and Brock Purdy set to be sidelined throughout the Cards and 49ers’ programs. Separating Arizona in this area: Colt McCoy is also recovering from an injury that stands to sideline him for at least part of Arizona’s offseason workouts. Bidwill said McCoy is coming back from an unspecified injury that “will limit him in the offseason.”

McCoy battled arm and calf issues, leading him to IR, but he resurfaced to replace Murray for two games prior to the latter’s ACL tear. McCoy sustained a concussion in Week 15, his third start of the season, and did not play again. The Cardinals cleared their backup from concussion protocol in Week 17, but McCoy experienced more symptoms during a practice soon after and finished the season out of action. The longtime backup will turn 37 before Week 1; his two-year, $7.5MM contract runs through the 2023 season. The two QBs to finish the season for the Cards — David Blough and Trace McSorley — are eligible for restricted and unrestricted free agency, respectively.

Kyler Murray Influenced Jonathan Gannon’s Decision To Accept Arizona HC Position

February 20th, 2023 at 7:05pm CST by Ely Allen

In an interesting excerpt from a conversation with new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, we learned that quarterback Kyler Murray played a huge factor in bringing the first-time head coach to Arizona, according to Peter King of NBC Sports. There was also a bit of information detailing just how badly the Eagles wanted to hang on to their former defensive coordinator.

When asked about how the “polarizing figure” of Murray factored into Gannon’s decision, Gannon frankly replied, “If Kyler Murray isn’t here, I don’t take this job.”

Gannon went on to laud the young quarterback, praising the ability he has to put defenses in a bind. He then elaborated on where he thinks he can improve on Murray’s usage. Gannon believes that Murray was utilized out of the shotgun offense far too often and that incorporating more play from under center will “take him to another level and unleash his full skill set.” Gannon claims that running more plays from under center will force defenses to have to be ready to defend plays they don’t worry about in shotgun formations, taking pressure off of the offensive line and Murray.

In light of Gannon’s plans for the 25-year-old quarterback under new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, it’s clear that Gannon is on the positive end of the polarizing opinions of Murray. It sounds like Cardinals fans should expect Murray to remain the long-term plan at quarterback moving forward under Gannon.

King’s next question asked Gannon to expand on his exit from Philadelphia. It appears that the Eagles’ brass had some idea that Gannon would be a hot commodity and prepared a counteroffer to keep him in place. According to Gannon, the team offered him a new contract that would pay him more than he would make as a head coach.

As much as Gannon claims to have loved Philadelphia, head coach Nick Sirianni, general manager Howie Roseman, and owner Jeffrey Lurie, the prospect of becoming a head coach was too enticing. Gannon credits Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill, general manager Monti Ossenfort, and Murray with making the job so alluring, so much so that he was willing to turn down a rich new deal to retain a position in which he knew he could succeed.

Sean Payton Addresses Russell Wilson, Decision To Pass On Cardinals

February 9th, 2023 at 2:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Terry Bradshaw made a bit of noise during Super Bowl week, saying ex-FOX coworker Sean Payton was leery of working with either Russell Wilson or Kyler Murray.

Payton interviewed with two teams that roster returning quarterbacks — the Broncos and Cardinals — and two teams without settled starters (Panthers, Texans). He ended up choosing Denver, but Bradshaw said (via Newsday’s Tom Rock, on Twitter) he accepted the Broncos’ offer in spite of Wilson and did not want to work with Murray. Noting when Bradshaw is interviewed, “you hold your breath, because you don’t know what’s going to come out,” Payton addressed why he chose the Broncos — a job that will feature a Wilson cleanup task in 2023.

“For me, the first thing was ownership and general manager. That triangle needed to be strong,” Payton told Kay Adams on her Up & Adams show Thursday. “… With Russell, we’ve got someone who’s won a lot of games, who’s been successful. And then it’s really looking at, ‘Hey, what are the things he does well?’ I think anytime you have a season where it’s 5-12 or whatever their record was, my experience from afar is, generally speaking, there are a lot of people with dirt on their hands — not just Russ. That falls on other players; that falls on the coaching staff. I think those things we can clean up and correct.

“More importantly, [the decision centered on] going to the place where ownership is in place and supportive and has a clear vision and the general manager’s in place, those are the key, critical factors.”

Payton has spoken highly of both new Broncos CEO Greg Penner and third-year GM George Paton. Although Payton has been connected to bringing in former GM and longtime Saints staffer Jeff Ireland, Payton compared Denver’s GM to Mickey Loomis. For the time being, it looks like the Payton-Paton setup is not in jeopardy of splintering.

Paton’s headline 2022 acquisition encountered quick turbulence. Wilson struggled for most of the season acclimating to Nathaniel Hackett‘s offense and flashed concerning form in his age-34 campaign. But he angled for Payton, reaching out to the longtime Saints HC and Drew Brees about the fit. Payton will now be in charge of salvaging the Broncos’ big-ticket quarterback get.

“We spoke briefly,” Payton said of a pre-hire conversation with Wilson. “Latavius Murray is one of my former players, and he’s played with a number of teams. He’s one of those guys you like being around. We had a great experience with him in New Orleans. I got a text right at the end of the season. He said, ‘Man, we have to find a way to get you here — me and backfield teammate.’ When I heard that, I thought of running back. Then I thought of who else is in his backfield? I texted and said, ‘Who is your backfield teammate?’ He sent the number three. It was Christmas time and I said, ‘Be careful what you’re asking Santa for.’ That was my response. We kind of went from there.”

The Broncos fired Hackett on Dec. 26, and Payton became the team’s top target soon after. He made the Broncos his first meeting and said that was not due simply to logistics. While Payton offered praise for Kyler Murray, he said his “instincts were pushing me in a direction with Denver.”

This promises to be an eventful period for a Broncos team that has followed up its Super Bowl 50 win with seven straight playoff absences. The team gave Wilson and his team considerable privileges upon acquiring the longtime Seahawk, allowing him input into the offense and permitting his camp access to the facility. This involved a private office for the quarterback and access for his personal coach, Jake Heaps. Payton will be making some changes on that front. While Payton said he was unfamiliar with the previous arrangement, he confirmed (video link via SI.com’s Albert Breer) Wilson would not be working with his personal coach while at the facility.

The Cardinals have yet to hire a head coach; it appears likely no decision is coming until after Super Bowl LVII. Shortly after the team’s Payton meeting, new candidates Lou Anarumo and Mike Kafka entered the mix. Those two may well be the Arizona finalists. Anarumo’s second interview is set for Friday.

“I think [Murray] is extremely talented, and I think they have the same challenges there that we have in Denver,” Payton said, via Adams (Twitter link). “They are very similar challenges. Culture in the building has to be better. It just does.”

Kyler Murray Will Not Be Ready For Start Of 2023 Season?

January 29th, 2023 at 12:23pm CST by Rory Parks

The Cardinals are still searching for their next head coach, a search into which quarterback Kyler Murray reportedly has had input. Murray’s own health status could also be impacting the process.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Murray — who suffered an ACL tear in December — may not be cleared to play before the start of the 2023 regular season, and he may not see the field until the midway point of the campaign (video link). This differs a bit from Rapoport’s own report last month, when he indicated that Murray’s ACL tear was a clean one and that he had a realistic chance of suiting up for Week 1.

In addition to the ACL tear, however, Murray also suffered a torn meniscus. And, given his importance to the team and the fact that he just signed a massive contract extension last offseason, it stands to reason that the Cardinals would be especially cautious with his recovery. Although 2022 was a disappointing year across the board for the club — and although Murray’s regression in all major passing categories was a significant reason for that — his Pro Bowl performances over the 2020-21 seasons underscore his status as a franchise QB.

As such, while Rapoport said Murray’s prognosis has doubtlessly come up during the Cardinals’ head coaching interviews, it is unclear if it has deterred any candidates. Sean Payton, who interviewed with Arizona earlier this week, is reportedly a fan of Murray, and given the draft capital and financial commitment it would take to land Payton, the former Saints HC is surely not worried that the subpar win-loss record that the Cards might post in Murray’s absence would affect his job security.

But regardless of his thoughts on Murray, Payton’s momentum towards a return to the NFL in 2023 appears to be losing steam (which may be due, at least in part, to the Saints’ reported demand of two first-round picks in exchange for Payton’s rights). If the Cardinals elect to go in a different direction, Brian Flores, Aaron Glenn, and Ejiro Evero would reportedly comprise the team’s HC finalists.

Colt McCoy, who is under club control through 2023, would likely serve as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback for however many games Murray is forced to miss. McCoy has started six games for Arizona over the past two seasons, compiling a 3-3 record during that time.

Cardinals, Texans Granted Permission To Meet With Sean Payton

January 16th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 7:40pm: Payton’s interview with the Texans took place this evening, according to Mark Berman of Fox 26 in Houston (on Twitter). The coach still has interviews with the Broncos and Panthers on the docket.

JANUARY 11, 2:30pm: Linked to Sean Payton for a bit now, the Cardinals will explore this path. The Saints granted the Cards permission to speak with Payton, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Texans are in the mix as well, with NFL.com’s Peter Schrager indicating they have requested permission to speak with Payton. The Saints have also granted this request, Rapoport adds (Twitter links).

Payton, who is set to interview with the Broncos at some point, remains under contract with the Saints through 2024. Compensation will need to be negotiated between the Saints and interested teams, in the event a hire is imminent. The Cardinals are starting their HC-GM search with the GM part, but the team may be willing to make an exception for Payton.

Rumblings about the Cardinals looming as a dark horse for Payton emerged several weeks ago, when the longtime Saints HC had been connected only to the Cowboys, Chargers and Dolphins. None of those teams have vacancies, which could put Payton’s patience to the test. The Cardinals would satisfy Payton’s warm-weather preference, and although Kyler Murray is coming off a down season that ended with an ACL tear, he certainly qualifies as a franchise quarterback.

Payton is a fan of Murray, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. If the Cardinals are able to snag Payton, it seems likely he would be a central part of selecting a GM. Arizona has not hired a GM from outside the organization since the 1990s, and the team has internal and external candidates in place. Payton is believed to want to bring personnel people with him wherever he goes. While that could be a complication in Denver, which has a GM (George Paton), it would be less disruptive in Arizona.

Although the Cardinals had success with Bruce Arians and Ken Whisenhunt, the franchise has not employed a coach with this level of prestige since moving to the desert. Payton coached the Saints to nine playoff berths during his time in New Orleans, and all but one of the the playoff wins in franchise history came under Payton. While Drew Brees had a lot to say about that, Payton played the lead role in elevating Brees to the top tier at his position.

The Broncos’ new ownership would present a challenge for the Cardinals, depending on how much money will play into Payton’s thinking. Rob Walton‘s net worth dwarfs every other NFL owner’s, and the Broncos also are positioned to give Payton final say on personnel matters. Murray may be the better draw compared to a 34-year-old Russell Wilson, but the Cardinals’ roster also has several aging pieces. There is also the possibility Payton punts on a landing spot this year and waits for more attractive jobs to open up down the road.

It is tough to see a Payton-Texans partnership coming to fruition. Houston is still early in what has already been a lengthy rebuild process, one that has now featured GM Nick Caserio making back-to-back coaches one-and-dones. Payton, 58, would be given a much longer leash compared to David Culley and Lovie Smith, but this situation would be a strange one for a Payton comeback.

Houston, however, does have draft capital that outflanks both Arizona and Denver. Caserio’s deft maneuvering with Deshaun Watson gave the Texans additional first-round picks from 2022-24. Thanks to a 3-13-1 record this season, Houston holds the No. 2 pick next year. The Browns going 7-10 gave the Texans the No. 12 choice as well. While that presents an interesting opportunity, the state of the Texans’ roster is still fairly bleak. Payton also said last year he would eliminate certain teams based on their reputations.

“It would be the comfort level with ownership and the front office, with the leadership structure, with likeminded thinking,” Payton said of the circumstances describing his preferred destination in November. “Are more of those opportunities out there? I don’t think many. I think there are a lot of dysfunctional teams in our league. There are some places where talent can die. I just want to avoid those places.”

Payton once turned around a Saints team that had one playoff win in 38 years of existence, but he can be choosier about his destination given what he achieved in New Orleans. Both the Cardinals and Texans have experienced their fair share of dysfunction, and while the Broncos have been to eight Super Bowls and won three, they have changed coaches a few times during what is now a seven-season playoff drought. Some pushback on Payton’s Cardinals interest also surfaced last month. It will be interesting to see if Payton interviews with all three teams. He cannot begin interviewing until Jan. 17.

Cardinals Request GM Interviews With Ian Cunningham, Ran Carthon, Adam Peters, Monti Ossenfort

January 9th, 2023 at 3:51pm CST by Adam La Rose

It was announced not long after the Kliff Kingsbury firing that the Cardinals would also be in need of a new general manager. Steve Keim has permanently stepped away from the team due to health-related reasons, meaning Arizona joins Tennessee as the only NFL clubs currently in need of a new leader in their front office.

Keim took an indefinite leave of absence in December, and it was reported days later that he and the team were expected to part ways. With that move now having been made official, the franchise is currently operating with vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris and vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson filing in on an interim basis.

Each of them has already been interviewed for the full-time position, though, owner Michael Bidwill said on Monday. He added that his preference would be to have a new GM in place prior to the team’s next head coaching hire, but that the opposite order would also not be an issue (Twitter link via team reporter Darren Urban). External candidates have begun to emerge alongside Harris and Wilson.

One of those is Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, who has had received a formal interview request from the Cardinals, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones (on Twitter). He has also drawn the attention of the Titans in the early goings of their GM search, a testament to his continued rise through the ranks of various NFL front office positions during his career.

Cunningham began with the Ravens in 2013 as a scout, translating his time there into a move to Philadelphia in 2017. Over the course of his time with the Eagles, he worked his way up to the title of player personnel director. Most recently, he was hired by the Bears last January in another promotion, this time to assistant general manager.

In addition to Cunningham, the Cardinals wish to meet with Ran Carthon and Adam Peters, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. Those two hold the titles of director of pro personnel and AGM, respectively, with the 49ers. Like Cunningham, they too have caught the eye of the Titans for their general manager vacancy. Carthon, 41, has served in his current role since 2017 after spending time in the front office with the Falcons and Rams.

Monti Ossenfort is also on the Cardinals’ radar, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. Ossenfort, a longtime Patriots exec who has been with the Titans since 2020, saw the team elevate Ryan Cowden to its interim GM post in the wake of Jon Robinson‘s firing. Interviewing for GM roles in the past, Ossenfort serves as Tennessee’s director of player personnel. Given the Cowden development and the Titans’ changing of the guard, it will be interesting to see if Ossenfort remains on staff ahead of the 2023 season.

Peters, meanwhile, has been an NFL executive for two decades, beginning with the Patriots and later, the Broncos. He joined the 49ers in 2017, working his way up from VP of player personnel to the assistant GM title last year. He was a finalist for the Giants’ GM job last winter, which ultimately went to Joe Schoen.

Seeking their first GM in a decade, the Cardinals will have plenty of options to consider before making a hire. On the head coach side of the situation, quarterback Kyler Murray will be involved in the search for Kingsbury’s successor (Twitter link via Johnny Venerable of the PHNX Cardinals Podcast). That could add a interesting element to Arizona’s offseason, one which will be busy in light of today’s events.

Latest On Kliff Kingsbury’s Future With Cardinals

December 24th, 2022 at 12:36pm CST by Ben Levine

The Cardinals are about to miss the playoffs for the third time in four seasons under Kliff Kingsbury, leading to natural questions about the head coach’s future in Arizona. Multiple team sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Josh Weinfuss that they could see a path where owner Michael Bidwill will give his head coach another year at the helm, “due in part to injuries ravaging the roster and a personnel department in flux.”

On the flip side, Fowler and Weinfuss detail an increasingly ugly situation in the locker room, especially between Kingsbury and star quarterback Kyler Murray. While the QB was recently lost for the season with a torn ACL, the relationship between the duo had “grown increasingly distant” throughout the 2022 campaign, with Kingsbury described as “extremely frustrated” with his signal caller. In particular, the HC was wary of Murray’s “negativity” and his ability to influence others in the building.

The Murray-Kingsbury dynamic dates back a decade when the coach tried to recruit the QB out of high school. However, the two have gone periods this season without interaction, with one source saying the relationship seems “particularly bad this year.” As a result, passing game coordinator Cam Turner was forced to serve as a buffer between the two prior to Murray’s injury.

While sources say the relationship between Kingsbury and Bidwill hasn’t been without tension, the owner still may be willing to give his head coach the benefit of the doubt. Sources said Kingsbury hasn’t necessarily been given the resources to succeed, and the constant offensive injuries has left the head coach “miserable” since he can’t run his preferred system.

“He knows that it’s not a situation that lends itself to him being happy and successful and at his best for that organization, which he wants to be,” a source said. “They won’t let him. They won’t let him be great.”

A source told ESPN that Kingsbury wanted to fire offensive line coach/run game coordinator Sean Kugler long before he was dismissed for an incident in Mexico City. While the coach had already “lost opportunities to contribute to offensive planning,” it was believed that Bidwill didn’t want to fire Kugler and eat his contract, with Kingsbury supporters pointing to this anecdote as proof of the coach’s limited control in Arizona.

On the flip side, while the owner still meets with the head coach before and after games, the organization generally holds Kingsbury responsible for the W/L record. Ultimately, the Cardinals are 28-34-1 in Kingsbury’s three-plus seasons with the organization, with only a single playoff loss to show for their efforts. Kingsbury still has five years left on his contract, and the organization inked Murray to a $230MM extension prior to the 2022 campaign.

Load More Posts