Byron Murphy II

Byron Murphy II (born September 8, 2002) is an American professional football nose tackle for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns and was named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2023. Murphy was selected by the Seahawks in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Murphy II attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas. As a senior, he had 79 tackles and 14 sacks. He originally committed to play college football at Baylor University before changing to the University of Texas at Austin.

As a true freshman at Texas in 2021, Murphy II played in all 12 games with one start and had 15 tackles and two sacks. As a sophomore he started one of 13 games and recorded 26 tackles and one sack. Murphy II became a starter as a junior in 2023, being named the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year alongside Outland Trophy winner T'Vondre Sweat. Against Wyoming, he had a receiving touchdown.

Murphy was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round, 16th overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He signed a 4-year, $16,083,122 rookie contract with the Seahawks. After a hamstring injury in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins, Murphy was out for the following 3 games. In his rookie season, he played in 14 games with 9 starts, recording 0.5 sacks, 36 tackles, two TFL's and a QB Hit.

In Week 2 of the 2025 season, Murphy recorded 1.5 sacks in a 31–17 road win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots, he recorded two sacks and one fumble recovery.

Murphy proposed to his girlfriend, Maya Hurd on June 28, 2024.

• Seattle Seahawks bio
• Texas Longhorns bio