Seven years after declaring for the NFL Draft instead of pursuing professional baseball, Kyler Murray is looking for a job once more. The Oakland Athletics are leaving the door open for Murray, their 2018 first-round pick, should he want to want to pick up the bat again.
The Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday reportedly told Murray about their plans to release him at the start of the 2026 league year. In a social media post after the news broke, Murray admitted he “failed” the team that selected him No. 1 overall back in 2019, adding that he’s “prepared for whatever’s next” and believes “my best ball is front of me.”
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Murray didn’t specify which type of ball that may be. The Heisman Trophy winner was quite the outfielder in his heyday, with the A’s taking him ninth overall in the 2018 amateur draft. Murray promptly signed a $4.66 million bonus with Oakland and was allowed to play one more college football season.
But after dominating at Oklahoma and becoming the nation’s top quarterback prospect, he forfeited most of the bonus and went the NFL route. It’s not too late for him to reverse course, according to A’s general manager David Forst.
“Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,” Forst told MLB.com on Wednesday. “That said, he and his baseball representatives know that we’re always open to him exploring a return to baseball with the A’s if that time ever comes.”
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Murray’s last season as a baseball player was sensational, so Forst leaving the door open is understandable. In 2018 the Texas native hit .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 51 games for Oklahoma, leading to then-A’s vice president Billy Beane describing him as “one of the most dynamic athletes that we’ve selected since I’ve been here.”
It’s unlikely Murray switches sports considering he’ll likely get another staring quarterback opportunity, but what a story that would be.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Will Kyler Murray return to MLB? Athletics not ruling out reunion