Kyler Murray said it was 'tough' telling the A's he was choosing the NFL
Former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is committed to pursuing a career in the NFL.
And after watching him play last season — in which he threw for 4,361 yards, 42 touchdowns to lead Oklahoma to a College Football Playoff berth and won the Heisman Trophy — it’s easy to see why.
Yet telling the Oakland A’s, who drafted him ninth overall in the 2018 MLB draft, that he wouldn’t be playing baseball for them wasn’t an easy task.
[Batter up: Join or create a 2019 Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for free today]
“For me, it was something I’ve known for a while,” Murray told ESPN of his football plans. “That organization, being with the A’s, was the best possible situation for me just because they were so great throughout the football season, kind of leaving me alone and letting me do my own thing, and at the same time letting me know how much I meant to them and that type of stuff.
“Telling them was tough.”
While the A’s still retain his baseball rights, Murray said he isn’t going to change his mind.
“I mean, they can hold out all the hope they want to,” Murray told ESPN. “I’m going to play football.”
Murray, who was speaking after being honored during Oklahoma’s basketball game against Texas on Saturday afternoon, is expected to compete at the NFL combine in Indianapolis next week in some capacity.
And even though he said being drafted by the A’s was a tremendous moment for him, football just has always won out.
“The night I got drafted to the A’s — obviously it was a great day of my life — but I’ve been a football player my whole life,” Murray told ESPN. “I didn’t know how the NFL felt about me before this season because I hadn’t played.
“Going into this season, [the goal] was to put myself in the best position possible. Obviously, when you win, good things happen. A lot of good stuff happened this year.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
• Panthers’ Reid rips ‘false narratives’ about Kaepernick
• Sohi: DeRozan loves and loses again in Toronto return
• Sources: Warriors’ Green close to hiring LeBron’s agent
• Report: Harper meeting with Phillies owner in Las Vegas
