“Dak Prescott is going to be working his way back from injury, and Cooper Rush signed with the Baltimore Ravens. Factor in that Trey Lance hasn’t re-signed either, and quarterback depth is a glaring issue right now in Dallas. That is where Kyler Murray comes into play, and his role could see him replace Dak Prescott.” Ah! Dallas and drama. Right then, here we are yet again… Name a more iconic duo. We’ll wait. No, this is not a script… This was just days ago: ESPN’s Marissa Myers floated a wild Dak Prescott–Kyler Murray swap. More like a new QB for a new era. A new system. Majorly, for a new HC in Brian Schottenheimer.
But hey, the ‘D’ in Big D is drama. So, here we are. Just days late, Brian might have made it very clear—he wants no part of Murray. And he didn’t exactly whisper it.
Apparently, new Dallas offensive coordinator Klayton Adams, who was with Arizona last season, had some things to say about his former QB. And they weren’t glowing. “Kyler never really wanted to run,” Schottenheimer revealed, citing Adams.
That’s right—the same Kyler Murray who once terrorized defenses with his legs. Now, either Adams is holding a grudge, or the Cowboys’ new coaching staff just made sure this trade rumor never sees the light of day.
#Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer says that former Cardinals offensive line coach (and new Dallas OC) Klayton Adams told him that Kyler Murray “never really wanted to run” pic.twitter.com/nRNJLzAK5M
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 1, 2025
So, does Kyler actually hate running? It’s an interesting one. If you only looked at the 2024 numbers, you’d have a case. An Arizona Republic article (Why isn’t Kyler Murray running anymore?) from December 18, 2024, reported that since week 8, Murray logged just 27 rush attempts for 130 yards—his lowest seven-game rushing total ever.
Not to mention that since returning from his ACL injury, his designed run attempts have nearly halved. That’s a stat line more suited for a pocket passer, not a dual-threat quarterback with a $230.5 million contract. But here’s the kicker: when Kyler does run, he’s dangerous. He’s averaging a career-best 7.2 yards per rush, with an even wilder 8.3 yards per attempt on designed runs—the best in the league. If he’s so effective, why isn’t he running more?
So, maybe, let’s blame the scheme and not the QB? At the time, Cardinals OC Drew Petzing had a different take. He argued that defenses are forcing the ball out of Kyler’s hands by crashing on the run. “The threat is always there,” Petzing said, explaining how defenses scheme against Kyler’s legs, forcing more handoffs. And let’s not forget—the Cardinals’ offensive line was a turnstile inside (ranked 31st) last season, making it nearly impossible for Kyler to find space up the middle.
So, Schottenheimer’s message? There was nothing to decipher about it. It was pretty clear. He didn’t just mention Kyler’s running reluctance out of nowhere. This was a calculated message, both to the Cowboys’ locker room and to the fans still wondering about a Prescott replacement. Dallas needs a QB solution, but it won’t be a guy who “doesn’t want to run.”
Schottenheimer is setting the tone early—this isn’t a Murray-friendly system. But is Arizona his final destination?
Kyler Murray has a do-or-die 2025 season
Kyler Murray isn’t just stepping into his seventh NFL season—he’s stepping into the fire. The Cardinals have bet big on him since drafting him No. 1 overall in 2019, and now, the clock is ticking. This is about a defining new season. Murray himself knows it. When asked about the Cardinals’ Super Bowl chances, he didn’t sugarcoat it. “I haven’t done enough,” he admitted. He’s hungry, and for the first time in years, he’s fully healthy. No more excuses.
Statistically, 2024 wasn’t a disaster. He threw for 3,851 yards, 21 touchdowns, and added 572 rushing yards with five scores on the ground. Not bad, right? But “not bad” isn’t the standard. Murray’s biggest critics—and let’s be real, there are plenty—point to inconsistency. He flashes brilliance one week and stalls the next. But Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes the Cardinals aren’t pressing the panic button just yet.
“Cardinals can breathe a sigh of relief because Murray fully recovered from a torn ACL and played in every regular-season game last season, the first time he’s done that since 2020… Murray must develop a stronger rapport with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. Other than that, Arizona has no reason to panic over its quarterback situation.”
Plus, according to Moe, they’ve upgraded the QB room, bringing in Jacoby Brissett as a reliable backup. If Murray goes down, Brissett can hold the fort. But let’s be clear—this team lives and dies with Kyler. The franchise has made that obvious. There’s no QB controversy. No whispers about moving on. The message? This is Murray’s team. Period.
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 27: Kelvin Beachum #68 and Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals celebrate after a run by Murray in the fourth quarter of a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
That said, the margin for error is shrinking. Arizona’s front office and coaching staff still believe in him, but belief only carries you so far. This league is ruthless. If Murray doesn’t elevate his game, patience will wear thin. He knows it. “I’ve only been in the playoffs once,” he said, frustration evident. He’s not wrong. That lone wild-card loss feels like a lifetime ago.
Can he put it all together? The pieces are there. Drew Petzing’s offense is built to maximize his dual-threat ability. Marvin Harrison Jr. is in town, ready to be his go-to target. The defense is improving. Everything lines up for a potential breakout. But potential doesn’t win games—execution does. Murray has to be more than electric; he has to be reliable. No more ‘maybe next year’. This is it.
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