“I would go play baseball”: Kyler Murray’s $230 million future with Cardinals intensifies after Rob Parker’s bold message to quit football

On Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, sports analyst Rob Parker made waves on his podcast show The Odd Couple by telling Kyler Murray that it might be time to walk away from football and play baseball instead. Parker said, “I got a different plan for Kyler Murray… Got your money. They’re going to cut you… I would go play baseball.”  Murray, the 28-year-old quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, signed a five-year extension worth $230.5 million in 2022.  With rumours swirling that the Cardinals may part ways with him in 2026, Parker’s blunt call added fuel to the growing speculation.

Kyler Murray’s contract and Rob Parker’s bold claim

Kyler Murray joined the Arizona Cardinals as the first overall pick in 2019. He later signed a five-year extension worth $230.5 million on July 21, 2022, which included $160 million guaranteed.  

Despite this big deal, Murray has led the team to the playoffs just once. Parker argued that the financial commitment is now a burden and that Murray should consider switching sports. 

.@AZCardinals GM Monti Ossenfort gave his opinion on the Jacoby Brissett and Kyler Murray QB battle, and how the team will assess the two moving forward.#ArizonaCardinals #NFLFootball #NFLNews #NFL #kylermurray #BirdGang
More below:https://t.co/IWh6zzHY9W

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) November 9, 2025

“He’s 28 and the Oakland A’s? The Oakland A’s have his rights,” Parker said. “He’s the first player ever in the U.S. to be drafted in the first round in both football and baseball. 

That tells you about his baseball skills.”  It’s worth noting that the Cardinals face a potentially huge decision: if they cut Murray in 2026, they could free up money but take on a large cap hit. 

Kyler Murray’s injury and Cardinals’ 2025 struggles raise doubts about his NFL future

The Cardinals’ 2025 season has been rocky. Murray suffered a foot injury during the Week 5 game vs. the Tennessee Titans and has since been sidelined.  

Backup Jacoby Brissett has taken over and put together a 1-3 record in his last three starts under centre. 

Because of these developments, general manager Monti Ossenfort told reporters that the team will not decide the quarterback situation until Murray is fully healthy. 

“When we put a guy on IR, that’s four weeks away… a lot of things can happen between now and then,” Ossenfort said.  Heading into a game against the Seattle Seahawks, the Cardinals’ record (3-5) shows their difficulty staying competitive, which puts Murray’s future in great danger. 

As Kyler Murray’s time in Arizona hits turmoil and his team’s decision-making clock ticks, the buzz around his return to baseball becomes louder.