Football has been pretty good to Kyler Murray over the past couple years. Murray took his game to another level his final year in college, got drafted No. 1 overall, won the Rookie of the Year award in 2019 and got the best receiver in the NFL to join his team in 2020.
One might think Murray would be content with that, but that’s not necessarily the case. Murray revealed he’s not fully ruling out a return to professional baseball, telling “Sports Illustrated” he’s “leaving it open,” according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.
“I still hold on to the three-sport title,” Murray said, chuckling a few times because he knows the hornet’s nest he kicks every time he broaches the baseball subject. “If the time came where I got to do what I wanted to do, which, I don’t know, but I’m leaving it open. I think I can still play for sure, but we’ll add the gaming on to that. Don’t shortchange me, please.”
Murray — along with Bronny James — appears on the cover of the magazine as part of FaZe Clan, an esports group Murray joined. Murray considers gaming as his third professional sport.
Would Kyler Murray actually go back to baseball?
Murray’s desire to play professional baseball isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Murray was drafted by the Oakland Athletics with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft. He decided to enter the NFL draft the following season, where the Cardinals selected Murray No. 1 overall. Murray decided football was the way to go, and it’s tough to criticize that decision now.
While it’s not impossible, it feels unlikely Murray would decide to play both sports professionally. Players like Deion Sanders and Bo Jackson have done it, but it’s incredibly rare. Murray certainly has the talent, but there’s no reason for him to risk his NFL contract to play baseball professionally.
If anything, baseball is something Murray can use as leverage if he feels the Cardinals aren’t operating properly. Is the team delaying on handing Murray a massive extension? Well, there’s always baseball. Is a particular coach around who Murray wants fired? Murray doesn’t have to stick around.
Given everything Murray means to the Cardinals right now, it’s easy to see the team doing whatever is necessarily to make sure football remains Murray’s only focus.
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