Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray recently made headlines by announcing a new partnership with Call of Duty, leaning into a long-standing narrative about his passion for gaming. In a social media post, the 2019 NFL Rookie of the Year shared a clip joking about hypothetically taking a week off to focus on the popular video game—a nod to the gaming chatter that has followed him throughout his career.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!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 to Call of Duty and the gaming community became a significant talking 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 reportedly restricted the time Murray could spend playing video games, reflecting concerns about his dedication to football.
At the time, Murray had a large presence on Twitch with nearly 90,000 followers, regularly streaming his gameplay. The clause sparked widespread criticism, leading the Cardinals to remove it amid the backlash.
Though the clause was erased, the story persisted. Instead of shying away from the jokes and criticism, Murray has since embraced the narrative, using humor to take control of the conversation. His partnership with Call of Duty is the latest example of this approach, turning what was once a sensitive topic into a financial win. In his announcement post, Murray humorously acknowledged his critics: “To the trolls who memed me into a bag, thank you!”
In an interview with Kevin Clark on ESPN, Murray doubled down on this attitude when asked about the trolling. “I don’t know who made me the face of it. We all play the game. Not just me… it allows us to escape every day we’re grinding.” He then thanked his detractors once again, saying, “I just tell them thank you. I appreciate them all.”
I asked Kyler Murray about Call of Duty trolls.
"I don't know who made me the face of it. We all play the game. Not just me…it allows us to escape everyday we're grinding."
And to trolls now? "I just tell them thank you. I appreciate them all."
Amazing This Is Football. pic.twitter.com/SQcToMuwhO
— Kevin Clark (@bykevinclark) October 16, 2024
