Caleb Murphy Bio
Caleb Murphy (born December 15, 1999) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Grand Valley State Lakers before transferring to the Ferris State Bulldogs, where he developed into one of the most decorated defenders in NCAA Division II history. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds, Murphy is recognized for his pass-rushing ability and his record-setting senior season at Ferris State.
After entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Murphy has spent time with multiple organizations across the league, working to establish himself as a rotational defender. His professional journey has included stops with the Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, and the New York Giants, where he currently competes at the linebacker position.
Early Life and Background
Caleb Murphy was born on December 15, 1999, in Dowagiac, Michigan, a small city in the southwestern part of the state. He grew up in the same community where he would later become a celebrated high school athlete, attending Dowagiac Union High School. Murphy came from a region with a strong tradition of high school football, and he quickly made a name for himself as a versatile and physical defender.
At Dowagiac Union, Murphy lettered in football, basketball, wrestling, baseball, and track and field, demonstrating a rare combination of size, speed, and athleticism that would later define his playing style. As a junior, he was named first-team All-State after recording 86 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, and 15 sacks. He repeated as a first-team All-State selection during his senior year, posting 97 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks, which drew attention from several college football programs across the Midwest.
Path to American Football
Murphy’s path to American football began on the fields of southwestern Michigan, where his high school production made him one of the most sought-after defensive recruits in the region. He committed to Grand Valley State University, an NCAA Division II program located in Allendale, Michigan, where he could develop close to home while competing in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
Murphy redshirted his true freshman year with the Lakers, preserving a year of eligibility while he adjusted to the college game. In 2019, he appeared in eight games and posted 13 tackles along with one sack, showing flashes of the disruptive edge rusher he would later become. Following his redshirt freshman campaign, Murphy made the decision to transfer to Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, seeking a program with a stronger championship pedigree and a defensive scheme that suited his skill set.
His first season at Ferris State was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but when action resumed in 2021, Murphy emerged as a dominant force. He was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year and a first-team All-GLIAC selection after recording 63 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles as the Bulldogs won the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game. That breakout season set the stage for one of the most decorated individual campaigns in Division II history.
Caleb Murphy Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Murphy’s early college career was defined by patience and steady development. After redshirting his true freshman year at Grand Valley State, he worked his way into a rotational role in 2019, recording 13 tackles and one sack in eight games as a redshirt freshman. The experience gave him a foundation in the Lakers’ defensive system and helped him adjust to the speed and complexity of college football.
His transfer to Ferris State was intended to accelerate his growth, but the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to wait another year before showing what he could do at his new program. The extended layoff, however, did not slow his development once play resumed.
Ferris State Breakthrough (2021–2022)
Murphy announced himself as an elite defensive talent in 2021, his first full season at Ferris State. He was named the GLIAC Defensive Lineman of the Year and earned first-team All-GLIAC honors after finishing the year with 63 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 21.5 tackles for loss, and five forced fumbles. The Bulldogs capped the season by winning the 2021 NCAA Division II Football Championship Game, the first of back-to-back national titles for the program.
As a senior in 2022, Murphy produced one of the most remarkable seasons ever recorded at the Division II level. He set the NCAA single-season record with 25.5 sacks and tied the NCAA record with 39 tackles for loss, leading Ferris State to a second consecutive national championship. At the end of that season, he became the first non-FBS player to win the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation’s best defensive end. He also earned the Gene Upshaw Award as the best lineman in NCAA Division II, the Cliff Harris Award as the nation’s best small college defensive player, and the GLIAC Player of the Year honor.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023–2024)
Murphy signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on April 29, 2023, shortly after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft. He spent time working to carve out a role on the Titans’ defense and special teams units, appearing in five games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The Titans waived him on October 26, 2024, as they reshaped their defensive depth chart.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2024–2025)
On October 30, 2024, Murphy was signed to the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad, giving him an opportunity to continue developing in a new system. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 13, 2025, signaling that the organization viewed him as part of their longer-term plans. In six appearances for Los Angeles, Murphy recorded half of a sack and 12 combined tackles before being waived on October 18, 2025.
New England Patriots Era (2025)
Murphy was claimed off waivers by the New England Patriots on October 20, 2025, as the team looked to add depth along its defensive front. His time in New England was brief, as the Patriots waived him on December 15, 2025, after just under two months with the organization.
New York Giants Era (2025–Present)
On December 16, 2025, Murphy was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants, joining his fourth NFL franchise in just over two years. His arrival in New York gives him an opportunity to compete for a role on a defense that values versatile edge players. Murphy is expected to participate in the Giants’ defensive rotation while contributing on special teams as he works to establish himself at the professional level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Murphy’s signature achievements include setting the NCAA single-season sack record with 25.5 sacks in 2022 and tying the NCAA record with 39 tackles for loss that same year. He became the first non-FBS player to win the Ted Hendricks Award, a milestone that highlighted his dominance at the Division II level. In the NFL, his most notable transaction came when he was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants on December 16, 2025, marking his fourth professional stop and offering a fresh start late in the season.
Caleb Murphy Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Caleb Murphy was raised in Dowagiac, Michigan, where he attended Dowagiac Union High School and developed into a multi-sport standout. Public information about his immediate family has not been widely published, and he has kept his personal life largely private as he has built his professional football career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Caleb Murphy, as he has moved between three different organizations. He began the year under contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he recorded half of a sack and 12 combined tackles across six appearances before being waived on October 18, 2025. That release led to a quick claim by the New England Patriots two days later on October 20, 2025.
Murphy’s time in New England lasted less than two months, as the Patriots waived him on December 15, 2025. The very next day, December 16, 2025, the New York Giants claimed him off waivers, giving him a fresh opportunity to finish the season on an active roster. The sequence of moves reflects the unpredictable nature of life on the NFL waiver wire, but it also demonstrates that teams around the league continue to see potential in his pass-rushing skill set.
As Murphy looks to close out the 2025 season with the Giants, his focus will be on building momentum in a new defensive system and proving he can stay on an active roster. With a record-setting college résumé and a journeyman’s resilience at the professional level, he remains a player to watch as he works to cement a longer-term role in the NFL.