Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is igniting the NFL in 2021, staking a claim as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player as the quarterback of the undefeated Arizona Cardinals.
While Murray boasts some incredible physical attributes — a cannon arm, incredible speed — he’s been vertically challenged, and his height has been a question of controversy since before the 2019 NFL Draft.
Before the Cardinals took Murray No. 1 overall that year, there was a question of, really, just how tall the Oklahoma passer was. As it turns out, he’s still fairly diminutive, but not as short as some thought he might be.
Still, Murray’s height places him among some NFL legends as he tries to pave the way to become one himself.
How tall is Kyler Murray?
Kyler Murray’s official listed height is 5-10 1/8, just under a few inches shy of the big 6-feet marker.
Murray’s height was a major point of contention prior to the 2019 NFL Draft, when he was a projected top-10 pick. Some expected Oklahoma’s official measurables to not match up to Murray’s height, as colleges are known to pump up height and weight numbers before players reach the NFL.
Murray eventually measured in at an official 5-10 and 1/8 at the 2019 NFL Combine, coming in at 207 pounds. His hands measured at 9 1/2 inches, which is about the average size for an NFL QB.
When the Cardinals selected Murray No. 1 overall in 2019, the selection earned him of being the honor of the shortest QB in NFL history to be selected first in the NFL Draft.
“I’m always the smallest guy on the field,” Murray told The Washington Post. “I’ve said it multiple times — I feel like I’m the most impactful guy on the field and the best player on the field at all times. I’ve always had to play at this height.”
With Murray inching closer to an NFL MVP in Year 3, he may have a case.
Shortest QBs in NFL history
Surprisingly, Murray doesn’t actually top the list of shortest passers in league history, but he comes pretty close.
There are a number of quarterbacks who still stand above — rather, below — as shorter QBs. Since 1987, of all the quarterbacks who have measured at the NFL Combine, Murray is the second shortest, standing at 70.13 inches, or just over 5-10. The shortest QB on record is former Navy quarterback Chris McCoy, who measured in at just under 5-10 (69.8 inches).
In NFL history, there have not been many shorter quarterbacks than Murray. Famously, the “Little General” Eddie LeBaron stood at 5-7 and played for the Dallas Cowboys and Washington in the 1950s and ’60s.
Here are some other diminutive NFL passers:
Of all the sub-6 foot mainstay NFL starting quarterbacks, none have had the success quite like Russell Wilson has. Wilson is former Super Bowl-winner with the Seahawks, and has more TD passes than Flutie, Jurgenson and LeBaron. Different eras, mind you.
Flutie, whose height is still a question, had a solid but unspectacular NFL career as a journeyman backup and spot starter. Flutie offered support and trust in Murray prior to his arrival in the NFL.
“The biggest problem with a lot of short quarterbacks is they don’t have the arm strength,” Flutie said. “[Murray] does. He can make all the throws. …
“He can throw from all kinds of angles. We see that with [Patrick] Mahomes and you’ll have the same thing with Kyler Murray.”
So far, Flutie’s right.
