After leading the Arizona Cardinals to a 24-23 comeback win against one of the NFC’s top teams, quarterback Kyler Murray made headlines off the field by announcing a partnership with Call of Duty.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Murray delivered a balanced performance in the win, throwing for 195 yards and a touchdown while adding another 83 yards on the ground. His explosive 50-yard touchdown run in the first quarter gave Arizona an early lead.
Shortly after the game, Murray took to X (formerly Twitter) to unveil his latest venture—a partnership with Call of Duty. In a playful post, he shared a humorous clip where he joked about hypothetically taking a week off to play the popular video game, embracing a narrative that has followed him for years.
To the trolls who memed me into a bag, thank you!
I’m officially launching my @CallofDuty partnership! #CODPartnership #TheReplacer #BlackOps6 pic.twitter.com/JwpZKxSzYo
— Kyler Murray (@K1) October 7, 2024
Murray’s connection with Call of Duty and video gaming culture became a focal point in 2022, when he signed a five-year, $230.5 million contract extension with the Cardinals. The deal controversially included an “independent study clause,” which limited the amount of time the franchise quarterback could spend playing video games, a nod to Murray’s well-known passion for gaming. At the time, he had nearly 90,000 followers on Twitch, where he would stream his gameplay. The clause sparked widespread criticism, leading the Cardinals to remove it from the contract shortly after the backlash.
Although the clause was erased, the story stuck around. Rather than shy away from the jokes and criticism, Murray has since leaned into the narrative, using humor to take ownership of the situation. His latest Call of Duty deal exemplifies that shift, as he turned a once-sensitive topic into a financial win. Murray’s post summed up his new approach perfectly: “To the trolls who memed me into a bag, thank you!”
Among a difficult opening schedule for the Cardinals, Murray has posted a 66.4 QBR through the first five weeks, which ranks him 5th in the NFL among active starters. The only quarterbacks ahead of him are Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, and Lamar Jackson.
