Patrick Murtagh Bio
Patrick Murtagh (born 11 February 2000) is an Australian professional American football tight end for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He is also a former professional Australian rules footballer who spent time with the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). Murtagh first entered American football through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and has since worked to build a place at the professional level in the United States.
Before turning to American football, Murtagh played Australian rules football at both the semi-professional and developmental levels. His path from the Gold Coast to the NFL has made him one of the more closely watched Australian athletes trying to cross over between the two football codes.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Murtagh was born in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, on 11 February 2000. He was raised in Queensland by an Australian father and a mother from Papua New Guinea. He grew up alongside his parents, Michael and Vala Murtagh, in a household that supported his early interest in sport.
Murtagh attended The Southport School during his formative years, where he developed as a multi-discipline athlete. He competed as a national-level decathlete and was also a Queensland state champion, showing a strong background in track and field alongside team sports. He was awarded a place on Australia’s Commonwealth pathway, a government program designed to help subsidize college tuition, before he decided to pursue a professional career in Australian rules football instead.
Tragedy struck the family when Murtagh lost his father, Michael, to cancer in 2021, a personal loss that shaped the early years of his adult sporting career.
Path to American Football
Murtagh’s first taste of senior football came in Australian rules, when at 18 years of age he switched sports and joined the Labrador Tigers of the semi-professional QAFL state league. He worked his way through the club ranks and made his senior debut for Labrador in June 2019. That same period brought an invitation to the Gold Coast Suns Academy, the development arm of his hometown AFL club.
His progress through the academy led to selection by the Gold Coast Suns as a Queensland Academy zone pick at the 2019 AFL draft. Murtagh was placed on the Suns rookie list and went on to play 28 games for their VFL developmental team across a three-year stint, a stretch that included a preliminary final against crosstown rivals the Southport Sharks. He played as a ruck, key forward and key defender during his time in the Australian system. Murtagh was delisted by the Suns in September 2022 without having played a top-level AFL game.
Looking for a new opportunity, Murtagh entered the NFL International Player Pathway Program in 2023 as a tight end, beginning his transition from Australian rules football to American football.
Patrick Murtagh Career
Early Career (2023)
Patrick Murtagh’s American football career began in 2023 when he joined the NFL International Player Pathway as a tight end. On 4 May 2023, he was allocated to the Detroit Lions as part of the program. His time with the Lions was brief, however, as he had to step away from the team on 22 May 2023 due to a medical issue. The setback delayed his on-field development but did not end his pursuit of an NFL opportunity.
Jacksonville Jaguars Era (2024–2025)
Murtagh signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent on 15 April 2024, beginning his first full NFL off-season with a franchise. He was waived/injured on 27 August 2024, ending his first year on the Jaguars’ roster. The Jaguars announced they had waived Murtagh on 15 May 2025, closing his time in Jacksonville.
Across his stint with the Jaguars, Murtagh continued to develop his frame and technique as a tight end, working within the team’s system while adjusting to the speed and complexity of NFL-level play. His release in May 2025 opened the door for a fresh opportunity elsewhere in the league.
Denver Broncos Era (2025–Present)
On 28 August 2025, Patrick Murtagh was signed to the Denver Broncos practice squad, marking his third NFL organization. The move gave him another chance to earn a place in the league and to continue refining his game as a pass-catching and blocking tight end.
Murtagh’s path to Denver reflects the patience required of International Player Pathway athletes, who often move between practice squads and active rosters as they prove their readiness. His placement with the Broncos keeps his NFL dream active heading into the next phase of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Murtagh’s career so far are his selection by the Gold Coast Suns at the 2019 AFL draft and his 28 VFL appearances for the club’s developmental side. In the NFL, key milestones include his 2023 allocation to the Detroit Lions through the International Player Pathway, his 2024 signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent, and his 2025 move to the Denver Broncos practice squad. He is also notable as one of the few athletes to have moved directly from the AFL system to an NFL roster.
Patrick Murtagh Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Patrick Murtagh is the son of Michael and Vala Murtagh. His father, Michael, was Australian, while his mother, Vala, is from Papua New Guinea. Murtagh lost his father to cancer in 2021, a loss that has shaped much of his adult life and career.
He was raised on the Gold Coast in Queensland and attended The Southport School, where his family supported his development across track and field and Australian rules football.
2025 Season Performance
Patrick Murtagh’s 2025 season began with his release from the Jacksonville Jaguars on 15 May, ending his second year with the organization. He spent the early part of the year preparing for a fresh opportunity, drawing on his prior experience within the Jaguars’ tight end room and his 2024 work as part of their off-season program.
On 28 August 2025, Murtagh signed with the Denver Broncos practice squad, giving him a new platform to compete for a roster spot. His role with Denver centers on continued development as a tight end, with a focus on adding size, refining his route tree and contributing on special teams.
Looking ahead, Murtagh’s outlook in Denver depends on his ability to translate his international and practice squad experience into steady in-season production. His journey through the Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars and now the Denver Broncos shows the persistence required of International Player Pathway athletes, and his progress in Denver will be closely followed by fans of both Australian rules football and the NFL.