Their two years at Oklahoma were a great time for them. Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield, the Cleveland Browns' quarterback, never stopped competing.
The starting job is not so important. Mayfield already had that job, having quarterbacked Oklahoma Sooners to the College Football Playoff in 2015. This was weeks before Murray, who transferred from Texas A&M, arrived in Norman, Oklahoma.
They didn't stop trying to find other ways to be competitive, even the smallest ones.
Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma coach, recalled that the team was practicing a warm up drill to see who could throw a spiral best. It was always about that."
It was, Austin Kendall, Tanner Schafer and Reece Clark said. They were the other four Oklahoma quarterbacks who met in the same room as Mayfield and Murray during 2016 and 2017.
McGinnis stated that they always made every drill into a competition because they were trying to beat each other. It was never-ending.
The two former colleagues will meet again this Sunday when Murray and the Cardinals face Mayfield's Browns in Cleveland at 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox Murray defeated Mayfield in their first NFL match two seasons ago. Mayfield now wants to repay the favor and hand the undefeated Cardinals a first loss.
Murray stated, "Obviously he wasn't the man, but I was giving him s--- all of the time." It was competitive, but we also had the best quarterback room anywhere in the country. We knew that.
"The confidence and the swagger in that room was unmatched. It was great fun.
It is unmatched. Murray and Mayfield were the first quarterbacks to win the Heisman Trophy in consecutive seasons from the same school. 1, in consecutive NFL drafts.
Bob Stoops, a former coach at Oklahoma, said that Riley was "really special" and handed the reins to Riley in 2017. This happened one year before Mayfield would do it with Murray. "Just two extremely talented, driven individuals who were great examples to the team about how to be teammates and how to work together.
Even though they were driven to excel, Mayfield, Murray, and others, never allowed Oklahoma's potentially explosive situation to become a source of controversy.
Mayfield was open to the challenge, rather than feeling threatened by Murray’s unique abilities. Murray was a regular starter in college football. However, he never became disgruntled with the competition or became a distraction for Mayfield and the Sooners. Even after Mayfield retroactively received an additional season of eligibility, Murray was left on the sidelines.
Mayfield stated that it was a healthy partnership. All egos were left behind. We were able push each other to get the best from each other.
They used their competitive streaks to help each other achieve greatness, while having fun.
"For having two players that caliber in a meeting room, it wasn't as positive as you could have imagined, because there are obviously a million things that could've went wrong where it would've been good for one or both of them or both," Riley stated prior to the Red River Showdown last weekend, when he replaced Spencer Rattler (a former five-star recruit) in favor of Caleb Williams, who led the Sooners to an unlikely victory over Texas.
Riley spoke highly of Murray and Mayfield, saying that they didn't take s--- away from one another but had healthy competition and mutual respect. "And they both were smart enough to realize that they could learn from each other.
"They would have been great players regardless. They pushed each others to be even better."
Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray pushed each others to greater heights at Oklahoma. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images
WHILE MAYFIELD and Murray were at Oklahoma, practice was almost as thrilling as the games.
Stoops stated that Baker would be shouting all day and kicking the defensive coaches in the butts after big plays. "Unbelievable how much energy he brought made it enjoyable for everyone."
Murray was unstoppable in the operation of the scout team offense. He would almost always run out of pocket. Stoops stated that he and his assistants would watch the practice highlights again, just for entertainment.
Stoops stated, "It was just as, holy cow."
Murray and Mayfield weren't torturing Oklahoma's defenses; they were battling one another to see who could land more throws into the trash can or bounce the most throws over the crossbar. Mayfield, wearing No. Murray (No. 1) could be on opposite sides. Losers often had to bring the winners' shoulder pads inside after practice.
"Here, we're in the middle of special team, a chance to those guys to relax, chilla a bit, but instead they're going full out trying to win these quarterback matches," said Tyler Tettleton from Ohio University, an assistant coach and former graduate assistant who worked alongside the quarterbacks at Oklahoma. We looked forward to this practice more than any other because it was so much fun and competitive.
This was carried into the meeting room where the quarterbacks remained square in a celebrity guessing game called "passcode."
"Their level was unmatched in competitiveness. That's what I believe made us so successful over the years. Everyone was consuming these two men. The whole team was consuming those two guys. Tanner Schafer
Oklahoma QB 2017-present
Clark explained, "Say Kyler and me were in a team. Me and Baker would choose a celebrity and then we would each say one word to our partners to try and get them to guess it. It just bounced back-and-forth until someone guessed the celebrity." We would do this for weeks because they are like, "OK, we're playing to 10!" We're not playing from 1 to 20. No, we're not playing first one to 20. They just wanted to win in anything like this, so it just went on.
Murray and Mayfield would disagree about everything, even if they weren't playing passcode. They would debate everything, from who won the Masters in that year to who was the best in Rocket League to which Texas high school had the better football program.
Schafer, who remains on the Oklahoma roster, said that "their level of competition was not like any other I've been around." "And I believe that's what made them so successful those years. Everyone was consuming these two men. The whole team was consuming those two guys.
It was mutual bravado, which also led to a lot of trash talk.
Murray might appear to be different, Mayfield stated, but Murray is a trash talker behind closed doors. Don't let Murray fool you.
Murray was teased by Mayfield for carrying a keychain that had a small bottle of Sriracha sauce attached. He would open it to spice up his meals. Murray was not afraid to try Mayfield's speed, or at least his lack thereof.
Clark stated that they would be looking at film, and Baker would go on a scramble. Kyler would smirk like "Oh, I would've taken it to the house."
Despite their fun-loving ways, Mayfield and Murray were serious when it was important.
Clark stated that they knew the answers to all questions. Clark said, "Every blitz that was approaching, every protection and every line shift were all in their hands."
Riley believes that they learned from each other through this.
Riley stated that Baker is meticulous about the preparation and Kyler learned a lot. But I believe Kyler was able to keep things simple. Baker was aware of this ability, and I believe it was evident in Baker's interactions with Kyler.
"And all that was fun to see unfold."
In 2016, and 2017, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray were Oklahoma sidelines. (Photo by Richard Rowe/Icon Sportswire)
AS MAYFIELD led Oklahoma to the playoff in 2015. Murray was then at Texas A&M and looking to transfer.
The Sooners wanted to sign Mayfield's transfer quarterback because Mayfield was only eligible for one season. To determine which quarterback to pursue, Stoops had Riley, Oklahoma's first offensive coordinator, review tapes of three potential quarterbacks, Will Grier and Kyle Allen.
"Lincoln returns and says that he likes all three. Stoops said that all three could help us and win for us. "But Kyler Murray can win the Heisman Trophy.
Murray did just that in his one season with the Sooners.
Riley stated, "Sometimes you just see the same thing over and over again. Then suddenly you see something completely different that just hits you in an entirely different way." I was able to see the tape as a hit because of that.
Mayfield was now established as the starter. Murray's natural talent did not allow Mayfield to become complacent.
Riley stated that Baker knew deep down that he needed to continue playing at a high standard, "just as Riley had another great player in the room."
Mayfield accepted the challenge.
Clark stated that Kyler had the self-confidence and ability to say, "I'm going to take down anyone in front of me. He had the self-confidence." "And Kyler was so confident, he knew that even though he had only a year to go, he would make it happen.
Murray assumed that he would have two years to play when he initially chose Oklahoma. The Big 12 Conference voted to grant Mayfield one year of eligibility back in the summer following the 2015 season. This was because Mayfield had walked-on from Texas Tech to Oklahoma. Murray could leave, which was privately feared by the Sooners.
Stoops stated, "But he didn’t flinch."
Baker And Kyler At Oklahoma Award Baker '17 Kyler '18 Big 12 Off. POY Yes AP All American Yes Heisman Yes AP Player Of Year Yes Davey O'Brien Oui Manning Award Yes
Murray redshirted in the 2016 season. In 2017, Murray was the backup as Mayfield won The Heisman.
"Bake is a great player. Murray stated that although he gets a lot hate, he is a great player. "I'm grateful that I was able to learn from him over those years.
Ironically Murray got his chance in Mayfield's last college home game. Mayfield was suspended for pulling his crotch out and shouting, "F--- You!" After Mayfield's attempted handshake at midfield after the pregame coin toss, the Jayhawks had placed Mayfield on the Kansas sidelines. Murray was left out of the first series against the Mountaineers.
Stoops warned those in the stadium suite to buckle down before the first snap. Sure enough, Murray ran 66 yards before being pulled down at the West Virginia 4-yard-line.
Riley stated, "And Baker is the most excited person on our sideline," "That was all they, how they were."
However, Mayfield was unable to resist a "not fast enough!" jab at Murray as they watched the film the next day.
"The respect that those guys had for one another went a long ways," Austin Kendall, Louisiana Tech's starting quarterback, said. He noted how much he learned about leadership from Mayfield, Murray, and how well he prepared. "And I respected those guys for it."
In their first NFL meeting, Mayfield's Browns lost against Murray's Cardinals. Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire
WEEKS AFTER, MAYFIELD stood just a few feet from Murray's locker in the aftermath of Georgia's season-ending loss to the Rose Bowl. After answering his questions about the heartbreaking overtime loss, Mayfield ran to Murray and gave him an embrace.
Mayfield said of the Sooners, "They're great hands," moments earlier. "Kyler's the best athlete in the nation. ... They will be fine."
As Mayfield predicted, Oklahoma was fine. Murray broke Mayfield's FBS single season passing efficiency record, won the Heisman, and led Oklahoma back into the playoffs.
Mayfield stated that you could see he was a competitive player by the way he praised his teammates and the way he played. He might not show it the same way, but he is extremely competitive. He is where he's at this point because of that."
They have shared their success in college, which has carried on into the professional world.
Last season, Mayfield led Browns to their first playoff win in 26 years. And Arizona is the NFL’s last unbeaten team, after Murray's impressive start.
"They were great fun to have in our room. Riley stated that they got the best out of each others. They deserve credit for how they handled the situation in a way many people wouldn't.
ESPN Arizona Cardinals reporter Josh Weinfuss contributed.
