DeMarco Murray finally leaves Oklahoma but only for a dream Chiefs role

It finally actually happened.

CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported on Wednesday that the Kansas City Chiefs were targeting Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray to fill the same position for them, then just a few hours later, NFL insider Jordan Schultz revealed that things had escalated, and the Chiefs are expected hire Murray as their new running backs coach. Multiple sources eventually confirmed Schultz' report.

In the end, it took a dream scenario to pry Murray from Oklahoma.

Kansas City Chiefs expected to hire DeMarco Murray

Murray had been the Sooners' running backs coach since 2020 after spending one year at Arizona in the same role. Before getting into coaching, Murray had a stellar playing career that started in Oklahoma. He was a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 honoree for the Sooners while rushing for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore and senior.

After OU, Murray was a third-round pick for the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 NFL Draft. That prompted a seven-year NFL career between the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. Murray was at his best in 2014, his final season in Dallas, when he was NFL Offensive Player of the Year and First-Team All-Pro. He then spent a year in broadcasting after retirement before getting into coaching at Arizona.

Murray had flirted with other jobs multiple times in the past while with OU, but he always stayed put at his alma mater. However, a chance in the NFL and to coach under Andy Reid was an opportunity too good to resist.

Exactly a year to the date from getting this Chiefs job, Murray was also a top candidate last year to be Penn State's next running backs coach. It was brief, though, before it was confirmed Murray talked with Penn State but wasn't leaving Oklahoma. Ohio State also targeted Murray recently.

The same role at different college didn't make sense for Murray, though, especially since he was already coaching at his blue-blood alma mater. However, until now, not even NFL jobs had lured Murray away from Norman, with the Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders both reportedly targeting Murray in the last few offseasons.

Those past instances show just how great of an opportunity Murray believes he has with the Chiefs to finally leave the place he's been longer than anywhere else in his adult life. The Chiefs missed the playoffs this past season, but that ended a run of making it to the Super Bowl three years in a row while winning two of them. And with Reid in charge and Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, the Chiefs will likely be back there soon.

Murray became the second position coach Brent Venables lost to the NFL this offseason. Cornerbacks coach Jay Valai left OU just last week to be the Buffalo Bills' new defensive backs coach.