Gabe Murphy...Man on a Mission

Vikings pass rusher Gabe Murphy is ‘man on a mission’ to make up for lost time

Murphy, the coveted 2024 undrafted signing out of UCLA, was catching the eye of coach Kevin O’Connell before he twice sacked Texans quarterbacks in Saturday’s win.

By Andrew Krammer
The Minnesota Star Tribune

The elation shown by Vikings edge rusher Gabe Murphy, the purple blur responsible for two sacks and three other hits on Texans quarterbacks during Saturday’s preseason win, had been building for a year.

Murphy, a second-year undrafted defender out of UCLA, chopped down on the outside arm of Texans left tackle Zach Thomas, gaining the edge around Thomas with speed before he clocked Texans quarterback Kedon Slovis from behind for his first sack.

From both knees, Murphy celebrated the play by looking skyward with his arms extended.

“This time last year I was on the sidelines watching,” Murphy said after the game, “so it was good getting out there with the guys and I thank God every morning that I can.”

Murphy credits “the grind” of training at his home in Texas with his twin brother, Dolphins linebacker Grayson Murphy, and a healthy offseason after he spent much of his rookie year rehabbing a left knee injury.

The Vikings chased after Murphy following the 2024 draft, guaranteeing him $245,000, which led all of the team’s undrafted rookies last year. Coaches liked what they saw through his first couple of weeks of training camp, but a left knee injury prevented him from playing in the preseason.

Murphy didn’t practice as a rookie until Week 10 and didn’t play until Week 14 against the Falcons, when he said he first started getting his legs back. He said he’s been running in the right direction ever since.

His standout play had been noticed by coach Kevin O’Connell before he racked up the hits in Saturday’s game.

“Gabe’s been a guy that has shown up daily at camp, highlighted in front of the team,” O’Connell said. “It feels like a man on a mission right now in a lot of ways. And I’m just proud of him, proud of where he’s at in camp right now.”

Murphy is behind many edge rushers on the depth chart — Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner — but he is on track to make the team as a healthy contributor this time.

“Sky’s the limit,” Murphy said. “I’m just going to keep working and see where the chips fall.”