Byron Murphy facts for kids
| No. 7 – Minnesota Vikings | |||||||||||||||
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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born: | January 18, 1998 Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S. |
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| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school: | Saguaro (Scottsdale, Arizona) | ||||||||||||||
| College: | Washington (2016–2018) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33 | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2024 | |||||||||||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||||
Byron Murphy Jr. (born January 18, 1998) is an American professional football player. He plays as a cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football at the University of Washington.
Contents
Byron Murphy Jr.: A Football Star
Early Life and High School Years
Byron Murphy Jr. grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona. He went to Saguaro High School. While there, he was a star player, playing both cornerback (a defensive position) and wide receiver (an offensive position). In his final year of high school, he caught 88 passes for 1,733 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. On defense, he made 52 tackles and grabbed seven interceptions. After high school, Byron decided to play college football at the University of Washington.
College Football Journey
Byron Murphy Jr. started his college career at Washington in 2016. He spent his first year as a redshirt, which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in any games. This allowed him to gain experience without using up a year of his playing eligibility.
In 2017, he played in six games as a starter. He made 16 tackles and had three interceptions, even though he missed seven games due to an injury. He returned as a full-time starter in 2018. That year, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2018 Pac-12 Football Championship Game. He made two big interceptions in that game, one of which he returned 66 yards for a touchdown!
After the 2018 season, Byron decided to enter the 2019 NFL draft. He chose to leave college two years early to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. During his college career, he played in 20 games, making 74 tackles, grabbing 6 interceptions, and scoring 1 touchdown.
Starting His NFL Career
Playing for the Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals picked Byron Murphy Jr. in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the 33rd player chosen overall. He was the second cornerback picked in that draft and one of seven players from the University of Washington to be drafted that year.
In May 2019, Byron signed a four-year contract with the Cardinals. He worked hard during training camp to earn a starting spot. He became one of the team's main starting cornerbacks for the 2019 season.
- 2019 Season: Byron made his professional debut on September 8, 2019. He played in all 16 games that season, starting every one. He made 78 tackles, defended ten passes, and got his first career interception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- 2020 Season: In 2020, Byron continued to play an important role for the Cardinals. He also started playing as the main nickelback, a special defensive position. He made 51 tackles, defended eight passes, recovered two fumbles, and got his first two sacks (tackles of the quarterback). He missed one game due to health protocols.
- 2021 Season: For the 2021 season, Byron became a key starting cornerback for the Cardinals. On September 26, 2021, he had an amazing game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He made four tackles, defended two passes, and grabbed two interceptions. One of those interceptions he returned 29 yards for his first career touchdown! This great performance earned him the award for National Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. He finished the season with 64 tackles, 12 pass deflections, and four interceptions. He also scored one touchdown and had half a sack. He missed one game due to an injury.
- 2022 Season: Byron continued as a starting cornerback in 2022. On September 18, 2022, he made a game-winning play against the Las Vegas Raiders. He recovered a fumble and ran it back 59 yards for a touchdown in overtime! This was a very exciting moment. Later in the season, he missed the last seven games due to an injury. He finished the season with 36 tackles, four passes defended, and two fumble recoveries in nine games.
Joining the Minnesota Vikings
On March 15, 2023, the Minnesota Vikings signed Byron Murphy Jr. to a two-year contract. He continues his professional football career as a key player for the Vikings.
Images for kids
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A redshirt symbol, showing a player did not play in games that season.
