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Randy Moss Has Some Thoughts on Kyler Murray

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Randy Moss mixing it up with Patriots fans in 2026
Jan 18, 2026; Foxborough, MA, USA; Former New England Patriots Randy Moss interacts with fans before the start of an AFC Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images.

Hall of Famer Randy Moss stays up to speed on all things Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him in 1998, and he recently revealed his freshest takes on the club’s new quarterback, Kyler Murray. In short, Moss thinks Murray will cook in Minnesota, especially with Justin Jefferson at his side.

Training camp is still ahead, but optimism around Murray keeps building inside Vikings orbit.

The regular season is four months away, so it’s not long before Murray will start to deliver a verdict.

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Moss Sees Murray as Minnesota’s Missing Piece

Do you agree with Moss that Murray will be unlocked in the Twin Cities?

Randy Moss runs during a game between the Vikings and Bears at Soldier Field in 1998. Randy Moss Kyler Murray
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss runs during action against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in a classic NFC Central matchup. Moss continued establishing himself as one of football’s most explosive playmakers during the 1998 campaign. The file photo was captured on Sep. 27, 1998, in Chicago, Illinois, during his historic rookie season. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports.

Moss on Murray

Speaking to Bleacher Report, Moss opined, “I’ve always rooted for Minnesota. When you look at the success of the team, either good or bad, it has been because of the quarterback play. You had Sam Darnold, you had Daniel Jones. But you go with the youngster McCarthy, and he was not able to provide that answer, so you had to go out and get a guy like Kyler Murray.”

“What I’m excited about is the opportunity in front of Kyler Murray. He’s got a great wide receiver in Justin Jefferson, who now can try to regain his dominance as the No. 1 wide receiver in all of football. Kyler Murray also has something to prove.”

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When Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell has his starting quarterback — Kirk Cousins in 2022 or Sam Darnold in 2024 — his team has won at least 13 games in a season. If injuries emerge and quarterback instability ensues, Minnesota morphs into a middling-to-decent squad.

Moss added on Murray, “He was the future of the Arizona Cardinals, but they basically threw him away. If he’s able to deliver the ball to Justin Jefferson, everything else with the defense and every other weapon will be fine.”

“But all eyes will be on whether he can do that so they both can regain their dominance.”

How Murray Got Here

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The Arizona Cardinals drafted Murray in 2019 with the first overall pick, replacing quarterback Josh Rosen, who had been selected in Round 1 the previous year. Murray would later stabilize the Cardinals’ QB1 spot for seven years while the franchise posted no playoff wins.

Kyler Murray attends UFC 274 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. Randy Moss Kyler Murray
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray attends UFC 274 at Footprint Center during an offseason appearance away from the football field. Murray watched the event from the crowd on May 7, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona, while remaining one of the NFL’s most recognizable dual-threat quarterbacks entering another important Cardinals season. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.

Fast forward to the 2026 offseason, and the Cardinals fired head coach Jonathan Gannon, hiring Mike LaFleur as his replacement. The Cardinals’ brass decided it was time for a fresh start at quarterback, and with Arizona possessing virtually no trade leverage over Murray, they released him in March.

Then, it became a no-brainer that Murray would sign in Minnesota — the Vikings needed a quarterback to compete with J.J. McCarthy, and Murray was a Vikings fan as a kid.

In the end, Arizona will pay Murray to play for the Vikings, as Minnesota signed him to a deal worth $1.3 million for one year.

A Subtle Reversal from Moss?

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Moss’s endorsement of Murray is a slight reversal of his previous comments about the Vikings’ offense. Ex-NFLer Alex Smith picked Moss’s brain on ESPN airwaves in December, asking him if wide receiver Justin Jefferson should stick around for the long haul if McCarthy’s development took longer than expected, and Moss said to Smith, “I wouldn’t. I would not.”

Fans would’ve expected Moss to tell Jefferson to have patience, but he point-blank said he’d find a way out if the decision were up to him. Five months later, Moss is hyped about Murray and the upcoming chemistry with Jefferson.

In Moss’s defense, he had no way of knowing at the time that the Vikings landing Murray for the NFL’s version of free would be in play during the offseason.

McCarthy as a Fallback

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If, for some reason, Murray does not take off inside O’Connell’s offense or if he gets hurt — Murray has missed 26% of all career starts due to various injuries — McCarthy will be ready. He’s used the 2026 offseason to hone his mechanics, eat humble pie with Murray’s arrival, and follow a natural maturation pattern.

J.J. McCarthy soars through the air after a tackle against the Lions at Ford Field. Randy Moss Kyler Murray
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy flips through the air after a tackle from Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell during first-half action at Ford Field. The play unfolded on Nov. 2, 2025, in Detroit, Michigan, during a physical NFC North showdown as players closed around the collision in the middle of live game action. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-Imagn Images.

It’s an underrated 2026 storyline for Minnesota: Will McCarthy be ready to seize the moment when Murray exits the lineup (for whatever reason), or will he still feature his erratic play, intermixed with a bizarre tendency to get injured?

The Vikings’ best-case scenario might be for McCarthy to develop as planned. That is — when O’Connell calls upon him in 2026, he steps into the huddle and looks the part of an accurate and productive signal-caller.

Until then, Moss has big plans for Murray to explode in the Twin Cities. He thinks the Vikings are on to something.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker
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Nick Khan New WWE Contract Amid TKO Releases: Salary, Duration, Bonuses, More

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WWE President Nick Khan’s contract has been revised amid mass releases by TKO, the Stamford-based promotion’s parent company. Khan’s new salary structure and bonuses have been revealed.

It is a heartbreaking time for the WWE Universe as several talents have been released from the company. The list includes major names like Kairi Sane, The Wyatt Sicks, The Motor City Machine Guns, Zelina Vega, and Aleister Black. Even legendary names like The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have parted ways with the Stamford-based promotion, reportedly because TKO asked them to take a pay cut.

Amid all of this, WWE President Nick Khan has received a new contract. According to TKO’s SEC filings, Khan’s new contract will keep him in the company til 2030. It was also mentioned that he would operate out of Los Angeles, where he currently stays. The contract also highlighted that Nick will receive $2 million per annum til the end of 2026, and his base salary will be bumped to $3 million per annum in 2027.

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It was also mentioned that either side can terminate the contract at any time, but Nick Khan is required to give at least 60 days’ written notice if he wishes to leave the company.

Furthermore, the WWE President will be eligible for annual bonuses based on certain performance metrics: 150% of his base annual salary in 2026, increasing to 200% of his base annual salary from 2027 through 2030.

“During the Term, Khan shall also be eligible to receive an annual bonus award (‘Annual Bonus’), subject to the attainment of certain performance metrics, which may include the attainment of EBITDA-based targets and/or such other metrics as determined by the Governing Body, in its sole discretion. Effective as of the Effective Date, the target amount of Khan’s Annual Bonus shall be 150% of the Base Salary (i.e., target $3,000,000) for calendar year 2026 and shall be 200% of the Base Salary (i.e., target $6,000,000) for each calendar year remaining in the Term (i.e., 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030) (as applicable, the ‘Target Annual Bonus’).” [H/T PWInsider]


Kevin Nash talked about Nick Khan’s WWE pay amid stars’ releases

During a recent edition of his Kliq This podcast, Kevin Nash was asked about the mass WWE releases.

The legend said he was not surprised by it, but also noted how much money the company’s President Nick Khan was making while TKO is asking its wrestlers to take pay cuts.

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“Not after two weeks prior, when I see what the CEOs — what Nick’s getting paid. I mean, Nick (Khan) took half of the f*cking WrestleMania net… But I’m busting his ba*ls because we sat here and went over the numbers, and the year before was $1.4 billion. The next year, you’re $1.7 billion. So that’s $300 million. So, I’m busting Nick’s ba*ls, but we sat here and went over the numbers…” said Kevin Nash.

It remains to be seen what TKO has planned for World Wrestling Entertainment’s future.