KC hires 3k Pro Bowler as running backs coach

The Kansas City Chiefs have hired former NFL quarterback and Oklahoma Sooners RB coach DeMarco Murray to lead their assault corpsNFL Insider Jordan Schultz reported on Wednesday. Declining rushing production over multiple seasons led Kansas City to release Todd Pinkston, creating a running backs coach vacancy.

The Chiefs’ fielding game has ranked near the bottom of the league in recent years. In 2025, Kansas City averaged 106.6 yards per game, which ranked them in the bottom 10 and 25th in the NFL at 106 yards per contest. They averaged 101 yards per game the previous year, and in 2023 they were 17th in the league in rushing yards per game. The organization finished 6-11 in 2025, missing the playoffs and ending a 10-year postseason streak that included five Super Bowl appearances and three championships.

Kansas City has already taken steps to restructure its offensive staff. Eric Bienimi, who served as the team’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2022, returned to that role after Matt Nagy was fired. The Chiefs are also navigating roster constraints, owning nearly $50 million over the salary cap ahead of free agency on March 11 and the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23.

Murray, 38, is leaving Oklahoma after six seasons as running backs coach, with one year remaining on his contract. He joined the Sooners staff in 2020 after spending 2019 in the same role in Arizona. During his time in Norman, Murray worked under both Brent Venables and Lincoln Riley. While Oklahoma struggled as a team, ranking 104th nationally in yards per game with 119 last season, Murray still oversaw outstanding individual performances. Under his guidance, Eric Gray rushed for 1,366 yards and Kennedy Brooks for 1,253 yards in separate seasons.

Murray also has a proven track record as a recruit. In December, the Sooners signed the stacked 2026 No. 4 guard Jonathan Hutton Jr. and secured an obligation from 2028 no. 1 run by Mike Rhodes last month.

As a player at Oklahoma from 2006 to 2010, Murray amassed over 5,000 all-purpose yards and 63 touchdowns, including 3,685 yards and more than 50 total touchdowns. He earned three All-Big 12 honors and contributed to three Big 12 championship teams, including the 2008 team that reached the national championship game.

Selected in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys, Murray played seven NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans. He was named the 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league with 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns. During his professional career, the 3k Pro Bowler racked up 7,174 rushing yards, 2,165 receiving yards and 55 total touchdowns.

With Murray headed to Kansas City, it’s another personnel loss for the Sooners and Chiefs’ latest attempt to improve a running game that has ranked in the bottom third of the league the past two seasons.