DeMarco Murray, the running backs coach at the University of Oklahoma, is leaving the Sooners to join the Kansas City Chiefs as their new running backs coach. The move, reported by NFL Insider Jordan Schultz and confirmed by OUInsider, marks Murray’s transition from college football to the NFL under head coach Andy Reid.
Murray’s Coaching Career and Connection to Oklahoma
A former Oklahoma running back himself, Murray has been part of the Sooners coaching staff since 2020, following a short period with Arizona. He remained with Oklahoma through multiple coaching changes, including after Brent Venables was hired as head coach in late 2021. Murray has established a solid coaching record over his six seasons at OU after a successful seven-year playing career in the NFL.
Coaching Departures Create New Challenges for Oklahoma
Murray is the third position coach to leave Oklahoma this offseason, joining departures like Joe Jon Finley and Jay Valai. The Sooners now face the task of filling another important coaching vacancy, with Venables responsible for finding Murray’s replacement. Murray had previously attracted interest from other programs, including Ohio State, which offered him a contract extension to stay at OU.
Significance of Murray’s NFL Appointment
Murray’s move to the Chiefs signifies a step forward in his coaching career as he joins one of the NFL’s prominent teams. His role with the Kansas City Chiefs running backs will contribute directly to the development of the team’s backfield under Reid’s leadership. For Oklahoma, this change signals continued staff turnover and the need to maintain stability amid these transitions.
