Cardinals QB Kyler Murray set for first-ever trip to South Korea to connect with his heritage

Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray has South Korean ancestry from his maternal grandmother who is a South Korean national.

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray set for first-ever trip to South Korea to connect with his heritage

Kyler Murray (Image via Imagn)

As the Arizona Cardinals approach a pivotal offseason with over $75 million in salary cap space, their franchise quarterback Kyler Murray is taking some time off to reconnect with his roots. The third-generation South Korean is reportedly taking off to South Korea for the first time in his life.

The 27-year-old had a spectacular season last year. Although the Cardinals failed to make the playoffs for the third year straight, Murray’s progress has been a much-welcomed hope. In the 2024 season, Murray posted 3,851 passing yards, 26 total touchdowns, and a career-best 66.8 QBR.

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Cardinals insider Kyle Odegard shared the news on X, confirming that Murray, whose mother is Korean, has always expressed immense pride in his background.

Kyler Murray is heading to South Korea for the first time on Saturday. The Cardinals’ quarterback, whose mother is Korean, has always been proud of his heritage and is extremely popular there. Should be a cool trip.

Kyle Odegard tweeted

Kyler Murray, a third-generation Korean-American, has often spoken about his deep connection to his cultural roots. His maternal grandmother was a South Korean national and visiting the country marks a meaningful moment in his journey.

This offseason holds major significance for the Cardinals, who finished 8-9 in 2024 and are now well-positioned to make aggressive roster moves with their substantial salary cap space. Murray’s growth as a leader on and off the field has positioned him as the centerpiece of the franchise’s future.

While the team continues to shape its roster for the upcoming season, Murray’s offseason trip adds a personal milestone to his already impactful year. As the Cardinals prepare for the upcoming NFL season, the focus remains on maximizing their offseason resources while building around a healthy and determined Kyler Murray.

The Cardinals have a history with South Korea

In the history of the National Football League, there has been four players from the small Asian nation of South Korea. As per Pro Football Reference, John Lee was the first South Korean to play in the prestigious tournament of the States.

Younghoe Koo
Younghoe Koo was the fourth and most recent South Korea-born to play in the NFL (image via The Falcoholic)

John Lee was a placekicker for the St Louis Cardinals, a predecessor of Arizona Cardinals. The Seoul-born Lee shifted to the United States when he was in sixth grade and played at the Downey High School in Los Angeles, California. In the short span, he has held or tied several NCAA records while playing for the UCLA Bruins. In 1986, the Cardinals drafted him 32nd overall in the second round.

Lee, the first East Asian native to play in NFL, was one of the highest drafted placekickers ever drafted and became the highest paid in the position after the draft. However, his career was short lived after a slump and a surgery on his right knee. In 1988, he played the preseason with the Los Angeles Raiders before being waived on August 22.

The current Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Hines Ward was the second South Korean born NFL player. He played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1998 to 2011 as a wide receivers before kicking off his coaching journey. Kyle Love became the third in 2010 and the most known of them all, Younghoe Koo became the fourth in 2017.

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