DeMarco Murray goes on live TV, stuns reporters with retirement announcement

By Ross Kelly July 13, 2018 at 12:28pm

Three-time Pro Bowl running back and 2014 rushing champion DeMarco Murray announced his retirement Friday after seven NFL seasons.

Murray broke the news himself on ESPN’s “NFL Live,” where he was a guest analyst.

This Just In: Former Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray is retiring from football at the age of 30. pic.twitter.com/4S9tDP8C7r

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 13, 2018

“I’ve decided to retire from the game of football,” he said. “It’s been a great seven years of my career. I’ve been very blessed to have had the coaching staffs, players and teammates that I’ve been fortunate enough to play with for the last seven years of my career.

“I spent a long time thinking the last year or two, physically, mentally and emotionally. It’s time for me to hang it up. As hard as it is, the fans have been great, I’ve had a lot of great games and I’ve had a lot of great teammates, so it’s bittersweet. But I think for me it’s the right timing for myself and my family moving forward.”

Murray was one of the most prolific running backs of his era and did his best work during his four seasons in Dallas. A third-round pick in 2011 out of Oklahoma, Murray had the third-most rushing yards in the NFL from 2011 to 2017, trailing only LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore.

Murray played in 31 games with the Titans over the last two seasons but ceded carries to Derrick Henry in 2017 as Tennessee made the postseason for the first time in nine years.

Prior to joining the Titans, Murray spent one season in Philadelphia, but it was a season he’d like to forget. After rushing for over 1,800 yards the previous year, Murray couldn’t even reach half that total with the Eagles and proved to be a poor fit in Chip Kelly’s offensive scheme.

The best season of Murray’s career came in 2014, which was his final year in Dallas. He won a rushing title with 1,845 yards while also leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns (13) and yards from scrimmage (2,261).

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Murray broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season Cowboys rushing mark and was named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year. He finished tied for third in MVP voting alongside teammate Tony Romo.

Murray’s 4.8 yards per carry average with the Cowboys is the highest of any Dallas running back over the last 40 years, topping even Smith (4.2) and Ezekiel Elliott (4.6).

The timing of Murray’s retirement is a bit of a surprise considering he seemed open to playing just earlier this week.

Murray appeared on Adam Schefter’s podcast and said he talked with several teams and was just waiting for the right opportunity.

“I’ve had a lot of discussions with four or five teams that I feel will be a great fit for me,” Murray said. “It’s all about being transparent and, for me, I’m not looking to lead the league in rushing yards.

“Obviously I would work and do everything to give me the opportunity to do that, but it’s all about having an opportunity to get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to win a championship.”

That opportunity never came and Murray apparently doesn’t believe it will come, so he’s decided to call it a career at 30 years old and with over $25 million in career earnings.

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