Arizona Cardinals: The Kliff-Kyler tandem needs to end immediately

Multiple reports have surfaced regarding Kliff Kingsbury’s and Kyler Murray’s “increasingly distant” relationship over the Arizona Cardinals 2022 season. 

It’s no secret that this has been the absolute worst season for the Arizona Cardinals in recent memory. And yes, that counts the ill-fated 2018 campaign when the Redbirds toiled toward a 3-13 finish that brought the Kliff Kingsbury-Kyler Murray show to life.

Fast-forward to 2022, and that relationship is coming to an end, with reports from ESPN to Bleacher Report stating that the duo have grown “increasingly distant” as the season progressed. Murray had been, “wanting more freedom at the line of scrimmage, particularly with running plays,” per Bleacher Report, from ESPN.com. 

Their communication issues became so paramount, that the Cardinals locker room took notice of the dysfunction. Here is what ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss and Jeremy Fowler had to say, per a team source, according to the reports:

"“Before Murray’s injury, Kingsbury was described as ‘extremely frustrated’ with the quarterback per a team source, believing that his negativity, if not toxic, was ‘starting to get to people’ around the building,” – via ESPN."

Arizona Cardinals must dismantle the Kliff-Kyler duo immediately

If owner Michael Bidwill has any audacity, he will admit the mistake of hiring Kingsbury and get rid of him immediately. Like, before this week’s game, and just let defensive coordinator Vance Joseph take over for the remainder of the year. Or perhaps passing game coordinator Cam Thomas. At this point, even Adam Gase is more fit to run the team than Kingsbury.

So what about Kyler Murray? While I have been rough on Murray all season, he is still a former number one overall pick who has at least had a few outstanding performances over his four-year career. Sure, he was terrible in 2022, but was that more on him or Kingsbury?

Yeah, he had more than a few immature moments, including his shouting match with Kingsbury on Thursday Night Football. And his preseason press conference stressing that he is indeed a hard worker when the media questioned his study habits, plus his refusal to take ownership when DeAndre Hopkins called him out in a game against the Seattle Seahawks.

But was it immaturity, or just frustration? Listen, when we are frustrated, we are prone to doing less-than-mature things. Perhaps that has been the case with Murray all year. Not immaturity or self-entitlement, but just flat out frustration that had since reached a boiling point. It’s something we are all guilty of.

Therefore, I would propose getting rid of Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. Murray has at least shown potential that he can be a long-term franchise quarterback, something the Arizona Cardinals have never had, and no, Jake Plummer was not one in my eyes.

Keep Murray, get rid of Keim, get rid of Kingsbury, and hire a coach and general manager who will build around Murray’s strengths. In other words, don’t take a “my way or the highway coach” that is Kliff Kingsbury. His sheer arrogance and micromanaging of the offense should cost him his job, and he will deserve to be gone.

Article Sources:

Report: Kyler Murray, Kliff Kingsbury ‘Increasingly Distant’ amid Cardinals Season by Adam Wells

Are the Cardinals nearing the end of the road with Kliff Kingsbury? by Jeremy Fowler and Josh Weinfuss

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