NORMAN — Oklahoma football running backs coach DeMarco Murray is leaving for the Kansas City Chiefs’ opening at the same position, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Murray is fresh off his sixth season as the Sooners’ running backs coach after playing in the NFL for seven years. OU averaged 3.5 yards per rush attempt and scored 18 rushing touchdowns this past season.
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Coach Brent Venables has already replaced two assistants this offseason after losing cornerbacks coach Jay Valai to the Buffalo Bills and firing tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley.
CBS Sports first reported Murray was a candidate Wednesday evening.
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Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray watches warm ups before the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Illinois State Redbirds at the Gaylord Family Ð Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025.
This is the third consecutive offseason Murray has been tied to other coaching openings.
Two offseasons ago, he seriously considered leaving for Ohio State, which made him an offer to be the highest-paid running backs coach in the country and where he has family ties, before signing a three-year extension.
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Last offseason, he was a candidate for the Penn State opening and was in the mix for the Dallas Cowboys’ running backs coach vacancy.
The 37-year-old Murray was first hired by former coach Lincoln Riley in 2020 and was the Sooners’ second-longest-tenured assistant following offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh. He rushed for 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns from 2007-10 as a member of OU’s football team.
The Sooners are now in the market for a running backs coach and return talented young players in Tory Blaylock and Xavier Robinson while welcoming one of the top recruits nationally in Jonathan Hatton Jr.
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Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: DeMarco Murray reportedly leaving OU football to coach KC Chiefs’ RBs
