Kyler Murray on Video Games, Streaming “A lot of us love to do it”
Going through my high school years there was a clear divide between the gamers and the jocks. But, nowadays, that divide is nearly non-existent. If you need proof, look to Arizona Cardinals Quarterback Kyler Murray. ESPN did a recent look into Murray’s life by way of watching his Twitch Stream.
The 24-Year-Old NFL Star has an impressive Twitch following. Boasting over 77,000 followers, Murray regularly gets around 800 concurrent viewers watching him play live. Unlike the biggest stars on Twitch like Ninja and Pokimane, streaming isn’t the job, it’s downtime for Murray to relax. Murray puts on Madden NFL 22 or NBA 2K22, some music and just relaxes with his fans.
He told ESPN, “It’s a thing for us to just calm down and kind of just take a step back, have a different perspective.” It allows Murray a chance to unwind. But it also allows fans to get different interactions with their favorite stars in a less formal setting.
Murray warns ESPN of the fine line you need to walk being on stream. It’s a chance to be yourself, but you’re still being watched and you need to keep an eye on how you act. “Obviously, you slip up and it’s gonna be all over the internet. So, you just got to find a happy medium being yourself and not being stupid,” Murray said.
Why Does Kyler Murray Play?
One of the important lines to take away from ESPN’s article is a line about video games helping with the mental aspect of being a pro-athlete. “A lot of us love to do it, so it definitely helps the mental, because the game of football, the sport in general, is very emotional,” Kyler Murray says. Confirming what a lot of younger fans and athletes already know, gaming is for everyone.
Whether you’re a nerd or a jock, young or old, whatever your gender is, video games are for you. And after a stressful day at work, throwing 30 yard passes or working a 10-hour shift on the grill, video games are a great way to unwind and improve your headspace.
Feature Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Body Photo courtesy of FaZe Clan/ Forbes