Simply put, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is used to winning, and he’s already sick of losing in the NFL.
Before being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in 2019, Kyler Murray boasted an incredibly impressive win-loss record of 57-3 between Allen High School and the University of Oklahoma. With those wins came an array of honors including the 2019 Heisman Trophy and being voted the Best Texas Football Player of All-Time.
Since becoming a member of the Cardinals, Murray has posted a record of 13-18-1. In 2020, Arizona started off hot and reached the bye week with a 5-2 record. The second half of the season was a different story with the Cards dropping six matchups and finishing at 8-8.
One game was the difference between a mediocre season for Arizona and returning to the playoffs after a five-year absence. This fact was, of course, not lost on Murray and he has not forgotten the feelings of barely missing what he feels is his due.
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray recently voiced some of his frustrations
When speaking to AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban, Murray recently had this to say.
"“Emotionally [last season] was definitely frustrating, especially for a guy like me. I want to win. Not going to the playoffs is weird for me. I know it’s the NFL and I haven’t been yet, but, I’ve always played past the regular season, in every sport. It’s different. I am definitely not looking to get used to that.It’s definitely upsetting, lot of anger and frustrating when you are losing those games you think you should win. At the same time, I’m a self-motivated guy. I take all that as motivation.”"
Murray is not the only player on the Cardinals’ current roster feeling this frustration. Arizona wide receiver Christian Kirk recently declared that it is “now or never,” for a team that has progressively improved each year under head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
With a 17-game schedule starting this upcoming season, the Cardinals will now need to finish with at least nine or 10 wins to even be in playoff consideration. Playing in the toughest division in football, the NFC West, Arizona has a gauntlet to run in order to reach their goals.
However, the Cardinals’ front office has made several interesting big-name additions over the past two seasons that include DeAndre Hopkins, J.J. Watt, A.J. Green, Rodney Hudson, and Malcolm Butler.
It is entirely possible that 2021 will be the year that Kliff and Kyler finally come into their own and put together a complete, winning season. Murray, and Arizona fans as a whole, are ready to win again.