Cardinals QB Kyler Murray talks Korean heritage, chance to play in Olympics
For years, Kyler Murray has been vocal about his Korean heritage. He’s worn a South Korean flag on his helmet and spoken out on social media against acts of hate targeting Asian Americans.
Now, he’s making his first trip to the country. And this week, in an interview with KBS Radio in Seoul, he hinted at potentially representing South Korea on the global stage in 2028, when flag football will make its debut as an Olympic sport.
“It’d mean a lot,” Murray said. “Just to be able to represent the country and wear with pride and also play the game that I love.”
Much of Murray’s current trip has been behind the scenes, as he aims to connect with his heritage. But when he arrived at Incheon International Airport on Monday, he was greeted by a throng of cheering Korean fans, some waving his jersey and waiting for autographs. On Friday, he visited a children’s hospital to meet with kids and leave a donation for those with rare diseases.
“It’s been surreal,” Murray told KBS. “Growing up in America, not having been here, with American football not being as popular over here in Korea, for people to recognize me and want to take pictures, want to come up and say hi and show me love, it’s important to me. I’m thankful for it. I’m blessed to be in this position.”
Murray’s connection to Korea is through his maternal grandmother, who immigrated to Texas, where she settled the family and gave birth to Murray’s mother, Missy. When Murray was growing up, his grandmother lived in Seattle but the importance of his Korean heritage was passed along by his mother.
“My mother did most of my upbringing as far as having it in the culture of food, explaining me stories, trying to teach me how to speak Korean, which didn’t go very well,” Murray said. “But I’m doing a lot better as of the last couple months, learning how to speak it pretty decently.”
Had he chosen baseball when he was a first-round pick of the Oakland A’s in 2018, Murray would have been one of many players with Korean heritage. But in the NFL, he’s part of a select group. Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo, who was born in Seoul, and Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton, whose mother is Korean, are the league’s two other notable players of Korean descent.
“That’s something I take pride in, being one of few to do it at the highest level,” Murray said. “And I’ve worn that on my back and on my chest since I was a kid. My mother has always taught me to embrace who I am and that side of me.”
Even with the 16-hour time difference to Seoul, Murray has managed to keep tabs on the Cardinals’ frenzy of free-agent signings. When Arizona signed edge rusher Josh Sweat, he tweeted, “Woke up in South Korea to some good news, we got a dog coming to the Valley.”
Coaching connections key for Brissett signing
As far as the Cardinals’ quarterback room goes, Murray got a new backup earlier this week when Arizona signed Jacoby Brissett to a two-year deal. Brissett will be firmly entrenched behind Murray on the depth chart but does provide veteran insurance if Murray were to miss time.
The motivating factor in signing with Arizona, Brissett said, was his connection on the coaching staff.
When Brissett was with the Browns in 2022, his quarterbacks coach was current Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Current Cardinals quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork was a coaching fellow on the Browns’ staff.
That trio has remained close in the years since. Just recently, Brissett was on the phone with Woolfork talking about golf when he attempted to broach the subject of his looming free agency. At the time, Woolfork had to tell Brissett he wasn’t allowed to discuss free agency. The connection, though, played a key role in Brissett's signing.
“Me, him and Drew kinda formed a relationship away from football,” Brissett said. “We talk about other things besides football. It made it very easy for me.”
Last year, Brissett said, the Cardinals expressed similar interest. At the time, though, he had an opportunity in New England, where he was able to open the season as the starter. This year, there were no starting options, so his connections with the Cardinals made the difference.
New Cardinals defensive tackle set for versatile role
On Friday, Dalvin Tomlinson spent his first day in the Cardinals’ building, officially signing his two-year deal with the organization. Immediately, head coach Jonathan Gannon began talking to Tomlinson about the versatile role he envisions for the defensive tackle.
“He’s been hitting that, playing across the front,” Tomlinson said.
That should be little surprise given how the Cardinals typically deploy their best defensive players, using them in multiple spots. Tomlinson’s past should also prepare him for that usage. With the Giants, he was primarily a nose tackle, lining up over the center. With the Browns, he almost exclusively lined up over the guard. In Arizona, he’ll likely play both roles.
While Tomlinson spoke Friday about the pride he takes in his run stopping, his most effective work in recent years has come rushing the passer. In 2024, he generated an 11.4% pressure rate, ranking among the league’s better defensive tackles.
“It's just learning myself as a rusher,” Tomlinson said. “A lot of people will look at Aaron Donald or something and try to do Aaron Donald moves. But you're not Aaron Donald. You have to know who you are.
"I know I'm a power rusher and my switch-up is finesse. And people don't expect the finesse part. So I'm catching a lot more people off guard.”
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