 Murray with theMontreal Alouettes in 2024 | |
| No. 12 – Montreal Alouettes | |
|---|---|
| Position | Defensive back |
| Roster status | Active |
| CFL status | American |
| Personal information | |
| Born | (1994-04-21)April 21, 1994 (age 31) Steubenville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Weight | 194 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Steubenville High |
| College | Kent State Ohio State |
| Career history | |
| |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Najee Murray (born April 21, 1994) is an American professionalfootballdefensive back for theMontreal Alouettes of theCanadian Football League (CFL).
Murray first playedcollege football for theOhio State Buckeyes in 2012, where he played in the first six games of the season before becoming injured.[1] He then transferred toKent State University to play for theGolden Flashes, but sat out the 2013 season due toNCAA transfer rules.[1][2] He then played from 2014 to 2016 for Kent State.[1]
After not being selected in the2017 NFL draft, Murray signed with theCleveland Browns as anundrafted free agent on May 15, 2017.[3] Following training camp, he signed on to the team's practice squad, but was released on September 19, 2017.[4]
On April 25, 2018, it was announced that Murray had signed with theMontreal Alouettes.[5] He made the team's active roster following training camp and played in his first professional game on June 16, 2018, against theBC Lions where he had one special teams tackle.[6] He played in the first seven games in2018 where he had six defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, and one interception, before spending the rest of the season on the injured list.[6][7] Murray was released during the following off season on May 4, 2019.[8]
On October 2, 2019, Murray re-signed with the Alouettes and played in the last four games of the regular season where he had 16 defensive tackles, one special teams tackle, and one interception.[6][9] He scored his first career touchdown on November 1, 2019, after interceptingOttawa Redblacks quarterbackWill Arndt and returning the ball 15 yards for the score.[10] He played in his first post-season game on November 10, 2019, in the East Semi-Final loss to theEdmonton Eskimos where he had four defensive tackles.[6]
In2021, Murray played in 10 out of 14 regular season games where he had 24 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, three interceptions, and one touchdown.[6] He signed a two-year contract extension with the Alouettes on December 17, 2021.[11]
In the2022 season, Murray played in 13 regular season games, starting in nine, where he had a career-high 40 defensive tackles, five pass knockdowns, one interception, one sacks, and one forced fumble.[12]
Murray started the first six games of the2023 season where he had 33 defensive tackles, one interceptions, and one forced fumble.[12] However, he sat out the rest of the season due to injury and was on the injured list when the Alouettes won the110th Grey Cup.[12]
Murray was born inSteubenville,Ohio, to parents Danita Murray-Hampton and Horace Hampton.[1]
