Kyler Murray’s social media post landed the wrong way on Tuesday. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Norm Hall via Getty Images)
Kyler Murray apologized Wednesday after a social media post featuring his dog and a Michael Vick jersey went viral for unintended yet predictable reasons.
The post featured Murray with his young pit bull, Trunks, while wearing a vintage Virginia Tech jersey with Vick’s name and number. Murray would have been 9 years old when Vick was indicted for a dogfighting ring that over 70 dogs, most of them pit bulls and many of them injured, were seized by authorities.
Murray soon deleted the post, but also allegedly responded by blocking a Cardinals fan account that noted the unfortunate combination.
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A day later, the quarterback addressed the matter with reporters and apologized, denouncing all animal cruelty and dogfighting:
“In no way, shape or form do I condone animal cruelty or dogfighting, whatever it is. For me personally, you all saw me wear the Michael Vick jersey, a player that I admired very much growing up, and then being home with my pup — my dogs, Trunks and Swoosh, they both get treated like kings, so it’s not like I’m condoning that.
“I saw how it affected people and decided to take it down. I apologize to anybody and whoever I affected.”
Murray’s post came two days after the Cardinals’ 27-22 win over the Carolina Panthers, improving their record to 2-0 for the first time since 2021.
The memory of what Vick did nearly 20 years ago still clearly has power for fans, though the man himself been on his own journey since then. After serving 21 months in federal prison, Vick resurrected his NFL career and became a public advocate against dogfighting, recording PSAs, speaking at schools and lobbying in favor of the Animal Fighting Spectator Prohibition Act in 2011.
Vick rehabilitated his image enough that he got a broadcasting job with Fox Sports and now works as the head coach of the Norfolk State football program, near his hometown of Newport News, Virginia.
