Sean Murphy-Bunting facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Sean Murphy-Bunting

Murphy-Bunting in 2023
No. 23 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:	Cornerback
Personal information
Born:	(1997-06-19) June 19, 1997 (age 28) Macomb, Michigan, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:	Chippewa Valley (Clinton Township, Michigan)
College:	Central Michigan (2016–2018)
NFL Draft:	2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019) Tennessee Titans (2023) Arizona Cardinals (2024–present)
Roster status:	Reserve/Non-football injury
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (LV) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2019) First-team All-MAC (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 297 Sacks: 1.0 Forced fumbles: 8 Fumble recoveries: 2 Pass deflections: 34 Interceptions: 11 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Sean Murphy-Bunting (born June 19, 1997) is an American professional football player. He plays as a cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Central Michigan Chippewas.

Early Life and High School Football

Sean Murphy-Bunting grew up in Michigan. He went to Chippewa Valley High School where he played high school football.

College Football Career

Murphy-Bunting played football for the Central Michigan Chippewas for three seasons. He became a starter in his second and third years.

As a sophomore, he caught five interceptions, which was the second-highest in his conference. In his junior year, he made 37 tackles and two interceptions. He was also named to the First-team All-MAC. After his junior year, he decided to enter the NFL Draft early.

Becoming a Professional Football Player

Before the 2019 NFL Draft, experts thought Sean Murphy-Bunting was one of the best cornerback players available. Many predicted he would be picked in the second round.

Joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers chose Sean Murphy-Bunting in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the 39th player picked overall. He was the fourth cornerback chosen in that draft.

Rookie Season: 2019

Sean Murphy-Bunting signed a four-year contract with the Buccaneers in May 2019. He started his first professional season mostly playing on special teams.

He made his first career interception in October 2019 against the New Orleans Saints. Later that season, he earned his first start as a nickelback. He played so well that he became a regular starter.

In December 2019, he had a great game against the Detroit Lions. He made eight tackles, deflected a pass, and intercepted a pass that he returned 70 yards for his first career touchdown. The next week, he got his first career sack. He finished his rookie year with 44 tackles, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, one touchdown, and one sack. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

Super Bowl Champion: 2020

In 2020, Sean Murphy-Bunting continued as a starting cornerback for the Buccaneers. He changed his jersey number to 23, inspired by basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Murphy-Bunting (#23) playing in a playoff game against the Washington Football Team.

He had his first interception of the 2020 season in November against the New York Giants. He ended the regular season with 70 tackles and one interception.

The Buccaneers made it to the playoffs. Murphy-Bunting played a key role, getting an interception in each of the first three playoff games. This helped the Buccaneers win against the Washington Football Team, the New Orleans Saints, and the Green Bay Packers.

His team then played in Super Bowl LV on February 7, 2021. Sean Murphy-Bunting started the game and helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9. This win made him a Super Bowl champion.

Later Seasons with the Buccaneers: 2021-2022

In 2021, Murphy-Bunting started the season as a key player. However, he suffered an elbow injury in Week 1 and was out for eight games. He returned later in the season and continued to contribute. He finished 2021 with 43 tackles.

In 2022, he competed for a starting spot but became a backup. He still made important plays, including an interception against Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. He dealt with a quadriceps injury that season, missing a few games. He ended his time with the Buccaneers with 31 tackles and two interceptions in 2022.

Playing for the Tennessee Titans: 2023

In March 2023, Sean Murphy-Bunting signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. He became the first player in Titans history to wear jersey number 0.

He started as a key cornerback for the Titans. In Week 2, he set a personal best with three pass deflections against the Los Angeles Chargers. He missed some games due to a thumb injury and later a shoulder injury. In January 2024, he had eight tackles and an interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He finished his season with the Titans with 57 tackles and two interceptions.

Joining the Arizona Cardinals: 2024-Present

On March 14, 2024, Sean Murphy-Bunting signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He became a top cornerback for the team, bringing experience to a young group of players.

In Week 3, he made seven tackles against the Detroit Lions. He missed two games due to a neck injury. In December 2024, he got his first interception with the Cardinals against the New England Patriots. He finished the 2024 season with 52 tackles, five pass deflections, and a career-high three interceptions.

In May 2025, the Cardinals placed Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list, which meant he would not play in the 2025 NFL season.

NFL Career Statistics

Sean Murphy-Bunting has played in many NFL games. Here are some of his career stats:

Regular Season Stats

Postseason Stats