TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals' special teams unit jogged off the field with a 7-0 lead following a Zane Gonzalez extra point on Sunday, and waiting for them at the numbers -- some 12 yards away from the sideline -- was quarterback Kyler Murray.

He offered up high fives to anyone who ran by.

It was a simple act but one he hasn't done often during his rookie season. It's another step in his growth as a quarterback, as a teammate and as a leader.

Murray tried to downplay the move, but as usual, the actions of the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NFL draft spoke louder than his words.

Leadership has been Murray's biggest area of growth this season, but it's also been a constant work in progress, coach Kliff Kingsbury said. Still, progress is being made.

"From Day 1, stepping in here in the spring to where he is at now is night and day," Kingsbury said.

Murray's meeting the special teamers on the field was a public example of his leadership, but most of his growth has come in the relative privacy of the Cardinals' locker room, meeting rooms and practice field. The place where teammates have seen Murray's leadership change the most, though, is a private space in a very public arena: the huddle.

"He's becoming more vocal in the huddle, with protections and things of that nature," left guard Justin Pugh said. "He still has a ways to go, [but] he's definitely night and day."

Murray was quiet in the huddle earlier in the season, Pugh said, which Pugh admitted is "just human nature." When the season kicked off, Murray was 22 years old, just months removed from the comforts of the University of Oklahoma, directing grown men who make millions of dollars all while playing under the most powerful microscope of any rookie.

"It was kind of like forcing it out of him at first," Pugh said. "He's definitely gotten more comfortable with us, and us knowing who he is as a person and him getting to know us has definitely been a process. It's been good that we've had a pretty consistent group of guys in that huddle all year."

Now Murray talks in the huddle. He cracks jokes. Just "normal locker room banter," Pugh said. Whatever it is he's talking about, it's a sign Murray has begun to feel more comfortable around his teammates.

Even his defensive teammates have noticed he's opened up more.

"One thing about Kyler is you don't see him in the huddle because he's so short, but he gets everyone's attention for sure," linebacker Chandler Jones said. "He does a good job of grabbing his tackles and [if he] sees a guy missing a block, he'll check them. It's hard for a younger player, because a lot of times you gotta earn respect in order to correct someone, but Kyler, he's earned that respect for sure. And I've seen it. I've seen it grown from training camp to now.

"One thing I do admire about him is his leadership, and he's definitely taken a bigger step in the leadership role."

Part of Murray's development has been an increased comfort and familiarity with how the NFL works, Kingsbury said, but he's had the talent all along. In his first season in the league, Murray has passed for 3,279 yards with 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He's also rushed for 504 yards and four scores. It was enough to earn him a spot as an alternate in the Pro Bowl.

Running back Chase Edmonds said Murray stayed to himself when he first arrived in Arizona, and that's changed. Murray is more social in the locker room, joking with teammates, walking around to talk with players at different positions.

Murray defends his actions.

"I didn't come in here just talking," Murray said. "I wanted to prove myself first and then be able to say whatever I need to say, tell people whatever I need to tell them. That's going to continue to grow as we move on in the future."

Earlier in the season, Kingsbury talked a few times about Murray needing to control his body language better, carrying himself the way New England's Tom Brady and Murray's opponent this Sunday, Seattle's Russell Wilson, do (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox). Kingsbury has urged Murray to watch film of both quarterbacks to get a better idea of how they handle themselves and play football.

"This franchise goes as he goes," Kingsbury said, "whether it's in a meeting or at practice or in a game. I think he's growing into that."