Kyler Murray, Vikings union puts pressure on both to deliver

Murray, meanwhile, was limited to just five games during what was another injury-plagued season with the Cardinals. It was the second time in three years that he played less than 10 games, ending what was a largely inconsistent and at times tumultuous seven-year run with the team.

While Murray had injury issues and his own issues as a quarterback, it is also fair to point out that he was surrounded by an organization that struggled to build anything around him. Head coaches changed multiple times, there was always a lack of impact playmakers around him and they did not really have anything in the way of a consistent defense to take some of the pressure off. 

It was a tough environment for any quarterback to win in. 

All of those factors should now be gone, and the expectations should reflect that. 

He is going to be surrounded with playmakers. Head coach Kevin O'Connell is highly regarded as one of the best offensive minds in football. The Vikings have every possible ingredient a team could want in order to compete for a Super Bowl on both sides of the ball. 

If Murray does not deliver here, it is going to be difficult to understand what environment he could deliver in. This is about as good of a situation that a veteran quarterback could walk into. 

That same thing applies to the Vikings as a franchise. You could write off the 2025 season as an example of what happens when you do not have a franchise quarterback, and how much that can hold an otherwise good team back. Murray is a former No. 1 overall pick who is still loaded with talent and should be a significant upgrade over what they used a year ago. If they do not get closer to a championship now, it will be fair to start asking questions about the head coach and the rest of the team.

Both parties have what they have been looking for. Now they have to deliver.