Exclusive: Chase Edmonds Talks Kyler Murray Work Ethic, Kliff Kingsbury, Playing Future

There has been plenty of speculation about the work ethic of Kyler Murray.

The Vikings’ new quarterback was much-maligned after Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill placed an independent study clause into his 2022 contract extension, and the perception stuck.

Is the criticism warranted?

Casino Guru News asked running back Chase Edmonds about Murray, who he played alongside and grew close with during their three seasons together in Arizona from 2019-2021.

"Look, I have never once questioned Kyler Murray’s work ethic," Edmonds said in an exclusive interview. "I know the work he puts in day in and day out to be prepared at the highest level. You know Kyler. You know his dad’s (high expectations). When it comes to the clause, I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened. I had been gone for a year."

Edmonds doesn’t say Murray was blameless, but thought the Cardinals’ organization should have done a better job of setting him up for success with more clear direction.

Kliff Kingsbury secured his first head coaching job the year Murray was drafted and has said in past interviews he was too player-friendly during his stint in Arizona.

"When Kyler was younger, I do think he could have been helped, put in better positions, to really understand the grind it may take to play the quarterback position," Edmonds said. "I do. But I don’t think that’s all on him, bro. To me, that’s from the top of the organization on down. When you draft a franchise player like that, you need to figure out how to mold him. Put people around him that are truly going to push him and help him grow. But in terms of work ethic? I’ve never questioned that."

Murray had an uneven seven years in the desert, flashing All-Pro talent but failing to bring a consistent winner to the downtrodden organization.

There is universal belief he has now landed in a better situation alongside coach Kevin O’Connell, elite wide receiver Justin Jefferson and a stingy defense led by master play-caller Brian Flores.

"For the Minnesota fans, I would just say that they are going to get the best version of Kyler Murray, one the NFL has not seen," Edmonds said. "When Kyler Murray first entered the NFL, he never experienced adversity. When you finally experience that adversity this late in your career? This version of Kyler, he’s going to be more motivated than he’s ever been in his entire life."

While there have been questions about Murray’s fit in Minnesota with O’Connell, Edmonds has no such qualms, especially due to O’Connell’s reputation as a quarterback whisperer.

"Kevin O’Connell is going to show Kyler football through a different lens he has not been shown before," Edmonds said. "I have that much admiration for how K.O.C. runs his offense. I think it’s going to be a perfect match in Minnesota."

Edmonds has some high expectations for Murray with the Vikings: an NFC North title this season, a third career Pro Bowl nod, and the Comeback Player of the Year award.

"It was a s---show at times last year with the quarterback inconsistency, but then you look up and they won nine football games," Edmonds said. "I think they have the best overall coaching staff in the NFL with K.O.C. and Brian Flores. There is no better coaching staff. They are going to be as prepared as anybody week in and week out in the NFL.

"I think they can win the NFC North, and I’m going to be real. I think Kyler Murray is going to win Comeback Player of the Year. I think he gets back to the Pro Bowl. I think he really reminds people of just how talented he is."

Edmonds on his Commanders stint, Kliff Kingsbury

Edmonds, a 2018 fourth-round pick of the Cardinals, just wrapped up his eighth season in the NFL.

He was on the Commanders’ practice squad for much of the year and was elevated to the active roster for three games, but played almost exclusively on special teams and didn’t have a rushing attempt.

"The plan was that I was supposed to play for Washington, but the running backs that they had, they ended up playing really well," Edmonds said. "All I could do was very much support them. So as far as having an opportunity, my opportunity never really came. You’re not going to just sit someone if everybody is performing pretty well. So that’s how it worked out.

"I was just grateful for the organization to take a chance on me, after a knee injury that was kind of a freak thing, where I found it out and then next thing I know my (2024) season was over. Just to be able to get back in the game, have a home for a whole year, get back around the guys and play ball."

Edmonds rejoined Kingsbury in Washington after playing under him for three years in Arizona. The Commanders and Kingsbury parted ways this offseason after his two-year stint as offensive coordinator.

Edmonds said he did not see any tension building between Kingsbury and head coach Dan Quinn or GM Adam Peters.

"That move was a big surprise to a lot of guys in the locker room," Edmonds said. "Kliff was loved in that locker room, especially loved by JD (Jayden Daniels) and Mariota. When you look at what happened with all the injuries, it was just a really s---- hand that he got dealt trying to run the offense. It felt like we did the best we could do with what we had. So that move did really surprise me."

Kingsbury ended up joining the Rams as the assistant head coach under Sean McVay, and Edmonds believes he will add value as an offensive play designer.

"I’ve got a lot of respect for Kliff, a lot of admiration for him, and I think he will bring wrinkles to the McVay offense," Edmonds said. "When you look at the Shanahan/McVay system, that West Coast tree, it’s a very foundationally structured offense. When you look at the film of other teams that run that offense, it’s very similar. The rules are the same. The route concepts are the same.

"I think Kliff is going to bring some uniqueness, a vertical passing game to give them a different look at times. Especially when you have a quarterback like Matthew Stafford, that can really throw the football down the field. Most of those offenses are throwing the ball inside the numbers, intermediate passes. When you have someone like Matt Stafford that can throw a 50-, 60-yard ball like it’s nothing, that will really help with Kliff coming over there."

Edmonds believes a year with McVay will have Kingsbury prepared to become a top-tier head coach or offensive coordinator option next offseason.

"I think Kliff is playing chess," Edmonds said. "I think Kliff is trying to improve himself as a head coach, as a play-caller. He probably had some OC job opportunities, or it didn’t shake out the way he thought, so he said, ‘S---, I’m going to learn from the best and really figure out how I want to run my offense.’ Kind of like a chess move that takes one step back to take three steps forward eventually. I think that this will be one of the best moves Kliff can make for his own coaching career."

Edmonds talks about his playing future

Edmonds, who turns 30 next month, would like to sign with a team for 2026 but also has a burgeoning broadcast career that awaits.

He has been on ‘Good Morning Football’ multiple times and turned down a broadcasting gig with an NFL team last offseason that would have required him to retire from playing.

"I still feel young, still feel great, still look great," Edmonds said. "It’s the life of an NFL running back. You just deal with how things go. I’m still out here working out with my trainers. I stay in shape, but at the same time, I’m not just going to be idle, praying for a call.

"I’ve been taking some broadcasting workshops. I just got done with a film and entertainment workshop. Did really well out there. I’m figuring out what I’m passionate about as I get into the tail-end of my career. I don’t see myself as one of those guys going to the XFL or CFL. That’s just not my style. If a call comes, I’ll be blessed and ready for it. And if not, life goes on."

Edmonds says he’s drawn to Pat McAfee’s style of football analysis, and an acting career is also something he is strongly considering.

"I feel like broadcasting puts me in a box, just to be truthful with you," Edmonds said. "I’m in the works of putting together, I don’t want to call it a podcast, because I want to put a different spin on it, but something with a co-host I’m working with. I think I can build my personal brand and showcase my personal talents on how I can inform and entertain, and not be in the corporate box.

"I kind of want to do my own thing, bro. I’m not saying I want to be the next Pat McAfee, but it’s kind of what I want to do. And then I also want to pursue the acting thing because it felt so natural to me. And then I can just be me. I carry myself professionally and try to talk intelligently, but I’ve got a lot of persona to me, bro. That Hollywood life is kind of where I want to go."

Edmonds: James Conner will ‘prove people wrong’ in 2026

Edmonds was the lightning to James Conner’s backfield thunder in 2021, the Cardinals’ most successful season in a decade.

Conner remains in Arizona after he and the team agreed to a re-worked deal this offseason. Conner suffered a serious foot injury in Week 3 last year that forced him to miss the rest of the year.

"James is such a good dude," Edmonds said. "It really hurt me to see him go down the way he went down last year. I reached out to him and we chopped it up a bit. I was just really happy to see that AZ did him right, not just leave him out to dry coming off the injury.

"James is still a very talented and productive running back. And he means so much to this community now. To have him come back to the Cardinals, I’m super excited to see it. We used to call him ‘Wolf’ back in the day when we were in the same locker room. I know he’s going to come with it and be more prepared than ever to come out and prove people wrong."

Conner will be 31 before the start of next season, but Edmonds expects him to be a major contributor in the Arizona backfield alongside new addition Tyler Allgeier.

"I’m biased because I’m a running back myself, but the age thing, where people think once we hit 30 we just fall off a cliff -- look, can we carry the ball 300 times a year?" Edmonds said. "Obviously not, because there is tread off the tire, but it’s about playing the running back position, and absolutely (Conner) can still perform at the same level he was playing at. They use that (age) to throw running backs away, and I think it’s a damn shame the NFL has allowed that to happen."

Edmonds said he doesn’t know Allgeier but has watched him play, and likes the signing for Arizona. He thinks it foretells the type of identity new coach Mike LaFleur wants to have on offense.

"I thought it was a good signing," Edmonds said. "They clearly wanted a downhill, bruising running back, and they paid him, so he’s definitely going to be playing a lot over there. His strength is that he can turn a 3-yard run into a 7-yard run, because he’s a downhill, physical runner. And he just does not fumble the football. I think that will be a really good fit for Arizona. You can tell with LaFleur, they want a physical identity over there, and that’s why it corresponded with that signing."