Kyler Murray could be contemplating an unlikely twist in his professional career, as the Oakalnd Athletics‘ front office hints at a possible return to baseball following his impending release from the Arizona Cardinals.
The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is set to become a free agent on March 11, and A’s general manager David Forst has publicly acknowledged a pathway for Murray to resume his baseball career with the organization.
Speaking with MLB.com, Forst said, “Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback, and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career.
“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.”
Murray‘s college baseball statistics at Oklahoma were impressive, hitting .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 51 games, a performance that drew attention from MLB scouts, though translating college success into a major league career is a considerable leap.
The Athletics drafted Murray ninth overall in 2018, paying $1.5 million of his $4.66 million signing bonus, of which he repaid $1.29 million when he chose football.
Despite forfeiting the remainder, the A’s retained his baseball rights, giving them control over any potential return.
At 28, and seven years removed from organized baseball, Murray is widely expected to remain focused on the NFL, where his $36.8 million guaranteed contract with the Cardinals will carry over to any 2026 deal, reducing the likelihood of a professional baseball comeback.
Murray could look to Deion Sanders for MLB inspiration
However, Deion Sanders demonstrated that dual-sport success is achievable, leaving a storied NFL career to pursue Major League Baseball, exemplifying how elite athleticism can translate across professional sports.
The now-Colorado Buffaloes boss built an NFL legacy as a shutdown cornerback with speed, agility, and field awareness, contributing not just in coverage but also as a return specialist and occasional offensive weapon, earning All-Pro honors and two Super Bowl rings.
He is the only player to play in both the Super Bowl and the World Series, and he did so by using speed on the bases, arm strength in the outfield, and sharp instinctive plays, translatable form the NFL.
The two-sport accomplishment of Sanders required exceptional adaptability, endurance, and mental focus, showing how skills honed in one professional league can complement and translate into another, a rare and remarkable achievement.
Though Murray‘s return to MLB would face significant challenges given his time away and football commitments, Coach Prime‘s example shows the theoretical possibility for elite athletes to successfully pursue multiple sports at a high level.
Ultimately, the A’s offer keeps the door ajar, if only symbolically, illustrating both the appeal of baseball to dual-sport athletes and the complexities of balancing professional opportunities across leagues, even for a talent like Murray.
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