Having signed in the offseason on a one-year a $1.3 million deal, Murray is favoured as the starting quarterback over J.J. McCarthy, formerly of Michigan. The 29-year-old was released by the Arizona Cardinals after having spent his first seven years in the league with them.
Murray is the fourth different quarterback to be given the starting role over the last four years, with Kirk Cousins (2023), Sam Darnold (2024), and McCarthy (2025) previously getting the nod.
"After some dialogue in-house and daily analyzing the overall of where we're at right now, we did name Kyler Murray as our starting quarterback," said the Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. "It's been a true competition, and we feel like we're at a place where we made a complete evaluation."
O'Connell also stated that Murray and McCarthy were made aware about the decision in a meeting among the trio, as well as general manager Nolan Teasley.
McCarthy had joined the team as a first-round pick back in 2024, replacing Darnold at the beginning of last season after the latter departed as a free agent to join the Seattle Seahawks.
Other quarterbacks on the Vikings' roster include former Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz and Max Brosmer.
Both Murray and McCarthy are set to see game time in the team's first pre-season game on Saturday versus the New York Giants, according to O'Connell.
Murray is a former top pick, as the Cardinals chose him first overall in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma. During his time in Arizona, he picked up the Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019 and made two Pro Bowls in 2020 and 2021.
"There's comfort from Kyler in the scheme," O'Connell said. "He had some really high completion days where he was able to show some really, really good understanding of just putting the ball in play, playing with great timing and rhythm. … As you continue to look at the body of work really through those 10 days, what jumped out is what could be."
Murray only played five games in 2025 before his season came to a premature end due to a foot injury. In total, he threw for 962, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, while managing just 173 rushing yards and one rushing TD.
In the last five years, Murray ended up playing a full season only once. He has a 38-48-1 record across 87 career games, with a 67.1% completion rate, 20,460 yards, 121 touchdowns, and 60 picks. He also has contributed 3,193 rushing yards for 32 touchdowns.
McCarthy has also had injury problems during his short time in the league. He was picked 10th overall in the 2024 Draft, missing his rookie year due to a torn meniscus.
So far, the former Wolverine has had 10 starts, with a completion percentage of 57.6% for 1,632 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. Moreover, he has 181 yards and four scores, owning a 6-4 record.
"(He is an) incredibly important member of our quarterback room and our team," O'Connell about McCarthy.