Eric Murray Bio
Eric Murray is an American professional football safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Murray played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2012 to 2015 before being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Throughout his NFL career spanning from 2016 to present, Murray has established himself as a versatile defensive player capable of excelling in multiple roles, including strong safety, free safety, and nickelback. His journey through the NFL includes significant stints with the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025.
Early Life and Background
Eric Murray was born on January 7, 1994, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He attended Riverside University High School in Milwaukee, where he developed his skills as a defensive back. Murray’s performance in high school positioned him for consideration among NFL draft analysts, with some projecting him as a potential third or fourth-round selection. His athletic abilities caught the attention of college programs seeking defensive talent at the safety position.
After completing high school, Murray chose to continue his football career at the University of Minnesota. He played for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2012 through 2015, where he refined his technique and gained valuable experience at the collegiate level. His consistent play during his college career earned him recognition, including being named Second-team All-Big Ten Conference in 2014, validating his development as a collegiate athlete.
Path to the NFL
Prior to the 2016 NFL Draft, Murray attended the NFL Scouting Combine where he performed all combine and positional drills. NFL draft analyst Matt Miller of Bleacher Report ranked him as the 14th best cornerback prospect in the draft, while Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus ranked Murray 19th among all cornerbacks in the draft class. The majority of draft analysts projected Murray would be selected in the third or fourth round. His versatility and performance at the combine enhanced his draft stock among NFL teams seeking defensive backfield help.
Eric Murray Career
Kansas City Chiefs (2016–2018)
The Kansas City Chiefs selected Eric Murray in the fourth round with the 106th overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. The Chiefs acquired this draft selection in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On May 17, 2016, Murray signed a four-year contract worth $2.96 million with a $599,803 signing bonus. Entering organized team activities, Murray was expected to compete for the starting cornerback position. However, during rookie minicamp, defensive coordinator Bob Sutton transitioned Murray to safety following the retirement of Husain Abdullah and the departure of Tyvon Branch in free agency.
On September 11, 2016, Murray made his professional regular season debut in the Chiefs’ home-opener against the San Diego Chargers, recording one solo tackle during their 33–27 overtime victory. Throughout his rookie season, Murray appeared in 16 games with no starts, recording eight solo tackles and a fumble recovery. He was primarily used on special teams, tying with Daniel Sorensen for the team lead with 367 special teams snaps. The Chiefs finished the 2016 season with a 12–4 record and clinched the AFC West division title.
In 2017, Murray’s role expanded significantly after starting strong safety Eric Berry suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 1. Murray earned his first career start in Week 5 against the Houston Texans, recording two combined tackles. He recorded his first career sack in Week 15, bringing down quarterback Philip Rivers for a nine-yard loss during a victory against the Los Angeles Chargers. Murray finished the 2017 season with 36 combined tackles, five pass deflections, and one sack in 14 games with two starts.
The 2018 season saw Murray as a starter from the beginning after Eric Berry remained on the physically unable to perform list and Daniel Sorensen was placed on injured reserve. On October 1, 2018, Murray recorded his first career interception during a victory against the Denver Broncos. He finished the 2018 season with 55 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and one interception in 15 games with nine starts. The Chiefs posted a 12–4 record and earned a first-round playoff bye.
Cleveland Browns (2019)
On April 1, 2019, the Kansas City Chiefs traded Murray to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. The Browns acquired Murray to address depth concerns at safety after trading Jabrill Peppers to the New York Giants. Murray competed for the starting strong safety position throughout training camp against Morgan Burnett and Jermaine Whitehead under defensive coordinator Steve Wilks.
During the 2019 season, Murray appeared in nine games with three starts, recording 21 combined tackles, one pass deflection, and one sack. He suffered a knee injury during practice on October 31, 2019, which required surgery and forced him to miss seven games. This injury limited his production and opportunities with the Browns as the team navigated through its season.
Houston Texans (2020–2024)
On April 1, 2020, Murray signed a three-year contract worth $18 million with $10.75 million guaranteed and a $4.50 million signing bonus with the Houston Texans. He entered training camp as the starting strong safety following the departure of Tashaun Gipson and was paired with free safety Justin Reid under defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. Head coach Bill O’Brien named Murray the starting strong safety to begin the season.
On December 13, 2020, Murray led the team with 11 combined tackles and set a career-high with two sacks during a loss at the Chicago Bears. He finished the 2020 season with 71 combined tackles and two sacks in 14 games with 14 starts. In 2021, after a brief demotion to backup duty, Murray returned to his starting role and recorded his first interception of the season in Week 10 against the Miami Dolphins. He finished the 2021 season with a career-high 76 combined tackles, four pass deflections, and one interception in 15 games with 15 starts.
On March 16, 2022, Murray signed a two-year contract extension worth $8 million with $3.75 million guaranteed. However, with the arrival of rookie Jalen Pitre in the draft and new coaching staff, Murray saw reduced playing time, appearing in 16 games with no starts and recording only 27 combined tackles. The 2023 season was cut short when Murray was placed on injured reserve in October due to a knee injury, limiting him to just six games with 13 combined tackles.
In 2024, Murray returned to form, appearing in 17 games with 14 starts and recording 75 combined tackles, a career-high 10 pass deflections, one sack, and one interception. He served as the primary nickelback in certain defensive packages and shared starting duties with rookie Calen Bullock due to Jimmie Ward’s injuries throughout the season. His performance earned him a Pro Football Focus grade of 61.7, ranking 101st among 171 qualifying safeties.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2025–Present)
On March 12, 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed Murray to a three-year contract worth $19.5 million with $12 million guaranteed and a $5 million signing bonus. The contract runs through the 2028 season. Murray joined the Jaguars seeking to contribute to their defensive secondary and provide veteran experience to their safety rotation. He was placed on injured reserve on October 31, 2025, due to a neck injury but was activated on December 6 ahead of the team’s Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Playing Style and Strengths
Murray is known for his versatility, having played multiple positions including strong safety, free safety, and nickelback throughout his career. His ability to adapt to different defensive schemes and roles has allowed him to remain a valuable asset across multiple teams. Murray demonstrates solid tackling ability and has shown proficiency in pass coverage, recording 30 career pass deflections and four interceptions. His experience in various defensive systems under different coordinators has prepared him to handle diverse responsibilities within a secondary.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Murray has achieved several notable milestones. His first career interception came in Week 5 of the 2018 season against the Denver Broncos. He recorded his first career sack in Week 15 of the 2017 season against Philip Rivers. His career-high two-sack performance occurred in December 2020 against Mitchell Trubisky and the Chicago Bears. Murray has appeared in multiple playoff games, including AFC Divisional Round and Championship Game appearances with the Chiefs.
Eric Murray Career Statistics
Through the 2024 NFL season, Eric Murray has accumulated 440 career combined tackles, 6 sacks, 4 interceptions, 30 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery across 91 career games and 57 starts.
NFL Career Highlights
Murray’s most productive season came in 2021 with the Houston Texans, where he recorded a career-high 76 combined tackles in 15 starts. His 2024 season with the Texans saw him post 75 combined tackles and a career-high 10 pass deflections while appearing in 17 games with 14 starts. During his time with the Chiefs, Murray was part of teams that posted 12–4 records in both 2016 and 2018 seasons, earning playoff berths and first-round byes. His 2016 rookie season included playing time on a team that clinched home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs.
College and Award Recognition
Prior to his NFL career, Murray earned Second-team All-Big Ten Conference recognition in 2014 during his senior season at the University of Minnesota. This honor reflected his development into a reliable defensive player during his collegiate career with the Golden Gophers, where he played from 2012 to 2015. His college performance helped establish his draft stock and demonstrated his ability to compete against high-level collegiate competition in the Big Ten Conference.
Eric Murray Family
Personal Life
Eric Murray was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he attended Riverside University High School. His Midwestern roots have been a constant throughout his life as he navigated through high school, college, and his professional football career spanning multiple teams across different regions of the United States.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 season with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Murray joined the team on a lucrative three-year contract in March. His season was interrupted when he was placed on injured reserve on October 31 due to a neck injury. After missing several weeks, Murray was activated on December 6 ahead of the Week 14 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The 2025 season represents a new chapter in Murray’s career as he works to contribute to the Jaguars’ defensive efforts while recovering from injury and adjusting to a new team and defensive scheme.