By Blessing 
Kenneth Murray Jr. is heading back to his home state — this time as a Dallas Cowboy.
On Wednesday, the Cowboys announced they’ve acquired the former Oklahoma Sooner linebacker in a trade with the Tennessee Titans. As part of the deal, Dallas receives Murray and a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick.
Murray, a native of Missouri City, Texas, starred at Oklahoma from 2017 to 2019. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, earning Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2017. Over three seasons, he never missed a start, anchoring the Sooners’ defense before declaring early for the NFL Draft. He earned Second-Team All-Big 12 recognition in 2018 and was a First-Team selection in 2019.
The Los Angeles Chargers selected Murray in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, taking him with the 23rd overall pick. He hit the ground running in the NFL, starting 53 of the 59 games he played over four seasons. As a rookie, Murray racked up 107 tackles — leading the Chargers and earning a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
Despite his strong start, the Chargers chose not to pick up Murray’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent last offseason. He then signed a two-year deal with the Titans, where he served as a team captain in 2024 and started every game. Murray posted solid numbers in Tennessee, finishing the year with 95 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and an interception.
Now, Murray gets a fresh start — and a bit of a homecoming — as he joins the Cowboys’ linebacker corps. With his leadership and experience, he could prove to be a valuable addition in Dallas.