Former NFL star DeMarco Murray left his job as the Oklahoma Sooners’ running backs coach to take the same position in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Murray is a certified Sooners legend who played for the program from 2007 to 2010 before forging a stellar NFL career.
DeMarco Murray’s Oklahoma Departure Explained
Oklahoma insider George Stoia revealed on X that Murray had been contacted by several NFL teams, but the opportunity to learn from Andy Reid was the main reason that Murray departed Norman.
“This was not an easy decision for Murray, I’m told. He has been offered big jobs before and never envisioned leaving OU. But this was an opportunity he did not feel like he could turn down. The chance to learn under Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy was too much to pass up,” Stoia posted.
“Murray has been contacted by NFL teams before, most notably the Raiders and Cowboys have tried to hire him. The Chiefs feel a bit different, though. The opportunity to learn under Andy Reid is appealing.”
Murray is an Oklahoma legend, finishing his Sooners career with 3,685 rushing yards, resulting in 50 touchdowns, while adding 1,571 receiving yards, resulting in 13 touchdowns, and 1,462 kickoff return yards for two touchdowns.
After a glittering six-year NFL career, Murray started his coaching career as the Arizona Wildcats running backs coach in 2019, before joining the Sooners in the same capacity in 2020.
Analyst Details Murray’s Reluctant Departure
During an appearance on the “96.5 The Fan” on Thursday, Oklahoma insider Jesse Crittenden revealed that Murray had been approached to leave Norman several times before, but he stayed loyal to his alma mater until the Chiefs’ offer arrived.
“He’s coming to Kansas City because he wants to be there, specifically,” Crittenden said. “I think it’s important to know that DeMarco Murray is an OU guy… he has been at OU for the last six years and has loved being at his alma mater. He has been chased by a lot of top programs, and even some NFL programs, over the last few years.
“But he continued to stay at OU because he loved to be there so much. I think he really thought about staying at OU despite how exciting that opportunity was. I think the opportunity to coach under Andy Reid and be on that staff was a real thing for him.”
Murray graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in communication and double minors in business and African American studies, and was a four-time Academic All-Big 12 honoree.
