Report: Kyler Murray Deterring Potential Cardinals Coaching Candidates
The Arizona Cardinals are just one of two remaining teams that have yet to fill their vacancy at head coach.
The Carolina Panthers opened the party last week by hiring Frank Reich. The Denver Broncos and Houston Texans followed just two days ago with nods to Sean Payton and DeMeco Ryans, respectively.
Now, the Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts remain with open positions.
Getting into Indy's reasonings for their delay would require a completely separate article, but there's some speculation on why Arizona's process is taking so long: Kyler Murray.
Early in the process, Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill said Murray would play a part in finding their next leader. General manager Monti Ossenfort answered with the following when asked if Murray would factor into the process:
“We're looking for a head coach that can lead this entire organization. We're looking for a head coach that can develop all the players with Kyler being a big part of that. We want the right coach. Whether that's an offensive coach or a defensive coach, it frankly doesn't matter. We want the best coach and we have a plan for what we are going to be as an organization; we're going to develop our players and we're going to put them in the best position to make us successful and ultimately win.”- Ossenfort
Arizona has swung and missed on a handful of candidates thus far. Sean Payton most likely used the team for leverage, DeMeco Ryans canceled his interview with Arizona, Frank Reich was the first name off the board and Dan Quinn decided to head back to Dallas for another season as their defensive coordinator.
Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline says Murray himself might be preventing coaches from taking the job in Arizona:
"Why is the Arizona Cardinals head coach job taking so long to fill? If you are to believe what people in Mobile are saying, it’s due to Kyler Murray — and it’s not because the quarterback has a large say in the matter," said Pauline.
"Rather, many of the desired candidates don’t want to take the job knowing they’ll be tied to the hip of Murray for the next four seasons. Murray signed a five-year, $230 million contract in late August, and anyone who takes the Cardinals job will have no options in the foreseeable future at quarterback."
Murray tore his ACL/Meniscus in Week 14 against the New England Patriots and his timetable for return is unknown at this time, though NFL insider Ian Rapoport previously said he would take his time returning from injury.
Returning from a significant injury is a crapshoot: Some players don't feel like themselves and never return to their previous level while others are able to push past it.
Murray's ability to use his legs was the strongest part of his game, and some are skeptical he may be able to work the same.
There's some fears with how Murray will look once on the field again, yet the financial aspect of his presence in Arizona is notable as well. His extension sees the following cap hits after 2023 (via Spotrac):
2024: $51.857 million
2025: $45.614 million
2026: $55.549 million
2027: $43.535 million
2028: $46.350 million
Murray received $103.3 million guaranteed at signing .
Talk at the Senior Bowl can sometimes be hit and miss. Take things and reports with a grain of salt, but there's no doubting Murray is at least a talking point for the Cardinals and their candidates.
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