Why did Kyler Murray kneel during national anthem? Revisiting Cardinals QB's stand against police brutality
Kyler Murray's had his ups and downs with drama in recent years. From his contract situation leading to him wiping his social media of all mentions of the Cardinals to getting slapped with a "homework" clause, the quarterback has stirred up more than a few headlines in his time.
However, before the recent money drama, the quarterback took a stand on national television during the insanity that was the 2020 season. Basically, the quarterback channeled his inner "Colin Kaepernick" and made plans to protest during the national anthem, according to the team's website via FOX 10.
He claimed that the move was to fight police brutality but also said that his generation was almost devoid of racism:
“Yeah, I’ll be kneeling. I stand for what’s right, that’s the bottom line. I call it like I see it. What’s been going on is completely wrong. I’ll definitely be taking a knee. I do feel like we’ll see change. Just because my generation, we’re so diverse. We know what racism is, but I feel like there’s not a lot of it in my generation."
Will the Cardinals quarterback kneel in 2023?
He continued, comparing his generation to the ones that came before:
“I know generations above me, my parents’ generation, there’s a lot of racism, whether we want to believe it or not, there is. There’s a lot of hate in this world, but I think what’s happening, what we’re seeing right now, is huge.”
.@RealSkipBayless on Kyler Murray announcing his intentions to kneel during the National Anthem:
"Kyler is saying: seize the moment." https://t.co/BhdxOP3xtC
Cardinals QB Kyler Murray sparks in 2020 season
While generating headlines off the field, Kyler Murray also showed his team that they made a sound investment in him. Heading into the year, he needed a spark after a 5-10-1 season in which he threw for 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In 2020, he saw a jump in production in several areas.
#Cardinals QB Kyler Murray told reporters that he will kneel during the national anthem to protest police brutality and social injustice.
In 2020, Murray's team jumped to an 8-8 record. He also threw for 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Since then, he has been able to take the team to the playoffs and secure a contract that could set him up for life. In 2021, he went 9-5 and lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
In 2022, after securing his bag, Murray's team hit a wall, slipping to career lows. He threw for 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions while going down 8-3 before an injury ended his season early. Will the quarterback bounce back in 2023 with a new head coach?
If any of the above quotes are used, please credit FOX 10, Cardinals media, and H/T Sportskeeda.