Gabriel Murphy Bio
Gabriel Murphy (born October 13, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker who has played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Texas Mean Green and the UCLA Bruins before signing with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Listed at 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) and around 251 lb (114 kg), Murphy has lined up at both linebacker and defensive end throughout his career. He is also known as the identical twin brother of fellow NFL player Grayson Murphy.
Early Life and Background
Gabriel Murphy was born on October 13, 2000, in Dallas, Texas, in the United States. He grew up in the Dallas area and attended Bishop Lynch High School, a private Catholic school known for its competitive athletic programs. As a high school prospect, Murphy played on the defensive side of the football and developed into a Division I recruit, drawing attention from college programs across the country.
Coming out of Bishop Lynch, Murphy committed to the University of North Texas to continue his football career at the collegiate level. His twin brother, Grayson Murphy, also pursued football, and the two would later play together at both North Texas and UCLA. The brothers’ shared path through the sport shaped Gabriel’s early development as a defensive player and helped establish his identity as a relentless pass rusher.
Path to American Football
Murphy began his collegiate career with the North Texas Mean Green in 2019, where he played as a linebacker and defensive end through the 2021 season. Across three years with the program, he started 15 of 24 games and produced 73 tackles along with 12 sacks, establishing himself as one of the team’s most disruptive edge defenders. After the 2021 campaign, he entered the NCAA transfer portal in search of a new opportunity.
He transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) ahead of the 2022 season, joining the Bruins of the Pac-12 Conference and reuniting with his brother Grayson. In his first year at UCLA in 2022, Murphy started all 13 games and recorded 38 tackles with 1.5 sacks. He returned as a full-time starter in 2023, again starting all 13 games and posting 38 tackles, this time adding eight sacks to emerge as one of the conference’s more productive edge rushers.
Gabriel Murphy Career
Early Career (2019–2023)
Murphy’s early career spanned his time at North Texas and UCLA, where he steadily grew into a reliable edge defender. At North Texas, his 12 sacks over three seasons showed flashes of pass-rushing potential despite a rotational role. His move to UCLA elevated the level of competition and gave him a chance to face top-tier offensive linemen week after week.
In his second year with the Bruins, Murphy’s eight sacks signaled a clear leap in production and helped him earn attention from NFL scouts. Although he went unselected in the 2024 NFL Draft, his combination of size, length, and college production was enough to generate post-draft interest from multiple professional teams.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024–2025)
Gabriel Murphy signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024, beginning his NFL journey. He was also selected by the San Antonio Brahmas in the second round of the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, though his priority remained on making the Vikings’ roster. His first professional season proved challenging, as he was placed on injured reserve on August 27 to begin the year.
Murphy was activated from injured reserve on November 26, only to be waived the following day and then signed to the Vikings’ practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on January 16, 2025, returning to the organization for the new league year. As of the early weeks of the 2025 NFL season, his official career totals included one total tackle.
2025 Season Moves
On August 26, 2025, Murphy was waived by the Vikings as part of the league’s final roster cuts. He was signed back to the team’s practice squad the next day, keeping him within the Minnesota organization as he continued to develop at the professional level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Murphy’s game is built on quickness off the edge and the ability to disrupt passing lanes from both linebacker and defensive end alignments. His college production, especially his eight-sack 2023 season at UCLA, demonstrated the burst and motor that translated to the next level. Listed at 6 ft 2 in and around 251 lb, he fits the mold of a modern edge rusher who can rush the passer while holding up against the run.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murphy’s path from undrafted free agent to NFL practice squad member marks an early career milestone in a crowded Vikings defensive room. His twin brother Grayson has followed a parallel professional path, and the two have occasionally been highlighted as one of the NFL’s notable sibling pairs. Murphy’s transition between the active roster and the practice squad during his first season reflected the typical grind faced by undrafted rookies trying to establish themselves in the league.
Gabriel Murphy Career Wins
As a defensive player, Gabriel Murphy’s career is measured less in traditional victories and more in statistical production and roster milestones. Across his time at North Texas and UCLA, he accumulated 12 sacks in three seasons with the Mean Green and added 9.5 sacks across two seasons with the Bruins, finishing his college career as a disruptive edge presence. At the NFL level, his verified statistical production through the early 2025 season stood at one total tackle, reflecting his limited regular-season opportunities with the Minnesota Vikings.
College Highlights
Murphy’s most productive college season came in 2023 with UCLA, when he started all 13 games and posted 38 tackles with eight sacks. That campaign served as his primary calling card heading into the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. His earlier work at North Texas, where he started 15 of 24 games and recorded 73 tackles with 12 sacks, laid the foundation for his growth as a pass rusher.
NFL Highlights
Murphy’s verified NFL highlight to date is his appearance in regular-season action with the Minnesota Vikings during the 2024 season. He signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025 and returned to the practice squad in August 2025, keeping his professional career active as he works toward a larger role.
Gabriel Murphy Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Gabriel Murphy comes from a closely connected athletic family, most notably through his identical twin brother, Grayson Murphy. The twins played together at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas before continuing their careers side by side at North Texas from 2019 to 2021. They reunited at UCLA, where both started for the Bruins, and have since continued their football journeys at the professional level.
Personal Life
Beyond his twin brother, limited public details are available about Gabriel Murphy’s immediate family or personal relationships. The brothers’ parallel paths through high school, college, and the NFL remain the most documented aspect of his family life.
2025 Season Performance
Gabriel Murphy’s 2025 NFL season has been defined by movement between the Minnesota Vikings’ active roster and practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract in January 2025, setting the stage for an offseason push to earn a roster spot. On August 26, 2025, he was waived as part of final cuts, then quickly returned to the practice squad the following day.
Through the early weeks of the 2025 season, Murphy’s verified regular-season production stood at one total tackle, reflecting limited defensive snaps. His continued presence on the practice squad keeps him positioned for a potential elevation if injuries or performance open a path to active duty.
Outlook for the remainder of 2025 centers on whether Murphy can earn a more consistent role on the Vikings’ defensive rotation or expand his opportunities elsewhere in the league. With his college pedigree as a pass rusher and his familiarity with the Minnesota system, he remains a developmental piece to watch as the season progresses.