Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary

In the NFL, a secondary without veteran leadership can struggle to navigate the chaos of high-powered passing attacks—especially in a division like the AFC South, where the Jacksonville Jaguars face quarterbacks who thrive on exploiting coverage lapses. Enter Eric Murray, a nine-year NFL veteran safety who has become the steadying force in the Jaguars’ secondary since joining the team in 2022. Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary is more than a testament to his longevity; it’s a recognition of how his years of playing for teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, and Houston Texans have equipped him to solve the unique challenges the Jaguars’ defensive backfield once faced. Before Murray’s arrival, the Jaguars’ secondary ranked 25th in pass defense in 2021, plagued by communication breakdowns and costly penalties. Now, with Murray anchoring the group alongside Andrew Wingard, they’ve climbed to 14th in the league—a turnaround driven in large part by his ability to anticipate plays and keep the unit aligned.

Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary is defined by Murray’s mastery of defensive schemes and his knack for making split-second decisions that shut down opposing passing lanes. At 6’0” and 210 pounds, Murray doesn’t possess the elite speed of some younger safeties, but he compensates with a encyclopedic knowledge of offensive tendencies. Over his career, he’s studied hundreds of hours of film, learning to read quarterbacks’ body language, identify formation tells, and adjust coverages on the fly. This expertise was on full display in a 2023 matchup against the Houston Texans: with 30 seconds left in the first half and the Texans driving for a touchdown, Murray recognized a familiar trick play from his time with the Browns, signaled to his teammates to shift into a zone coverage, and intercepted C.J. Stroud’s pass in the end zone to preserve a 10-point lead. Jaguars cornerbacks coach Tim Walton praised Murray’s football IQ, noting, “Eric doesn’t just play defense—he outthinks offenses. He’ll see a receiver line up a half-step deeper than usual and know exactly what route is coming. That kind of foresight is impossible to teach; it only comes with years of experience.” Whether playing free safety, strong safety, or even nickel corner in sub-packages, Murray’s ability to adapt to any role while maintaining composure has made him irreplaceable.

Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary further shines through in his ability to stabilize the secondary during high-pressure moments—situations where younger players often fold. NFL games are often decided in the fourth quarter, and Murray has a proven track record of rising to the occasion. In his career, he’s recorded 7 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, and 12 pass breakups in the final frame, including a game-sealing interception against the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 that clinched a playoff berth for the Jaguars. What makes these plays even more impressive is Murray’s calm under fire; he rarely makes impulsive decisions, instead waiting for the offense to make a mistake before capitalizing. After that Colts game, Murray explained his approach: “When the game’s on the line, you can’t let emotions take over. You have to trust your preparation, trust your teammates, and execute the play you’ve practiced a hundred times.” This mindset has rubbed off on the entire secondary, as younger players like Christian Braswell and Tyson Campbell have started to mirror Murray’s composure in late-game situations—cutting down on the costly penalties and coverage busts that once haunted the Jaguars.

Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary has had a transformative effect on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ ability to contain tight ends and slot receivers—two areas where they struggled mightily before his arrival. In 2021, the Jaguars allowed opposing tight ends to catch 72% of their targets for an average of 14.2 yards per reception, one of the worst marks in the NFL. With Murray taking on the primary responsibility of covering tight ends in man-to-man situations, those numbers have plummeted: in 2023, tight ends caught just 58% of their targets against the Jaguars, averaging 9.8 yards per reception. Murray’s physicality and technique make him a tough matchup for even the league’s top tight ends; he uses his strength to jam them at the line of scrimmage, disrupting their route timing, and his experience to anticipate their breaks. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense has also become more flexible with Murray, as defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell has designed packages that let Murray blitz from the slot—a move that has resulted in 3 sacks and 8 quarterback hits over the past two seasons. This versatility not only keeps offenses off-balance but also allows the Jaguars to use their other defensive backs in more specialized roles, further strengthening the secondary.

Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary also underscores his role as a mentor to the Jaguars’ young defensive backs, who have benefited greatly from his willingness to share knowledge. Braswell, a second-year cornerback, has called Murray his “on-field coach,” saying, “Eric will pull me aside after every play to tell me what I did right or where I can improve. He’ll show me film of how a receiver tried to set me up, or how to read a quarterback’s eyes to anticipate a throw. Without him, I wouldn’t have grown as a player nearly as fast.” Murray also leads weekly film sessions with the secondary, breaking down opponents’ passing games and highlighting key tendencies to watch for. The Jacksonville Jaguars’ locker room culture has thrived under this mentorship; instead of viewing younger players as competition, Murray sees them as investments in the team’s future. This selfless approach has fostered a sense of unity in the secondary, with players supporting each other on and off the field—a stark contrast to the division that existed before Murray’s arrival.

Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary concludes with the long-term impact of his presence on the Jaguars’ franchise. While Murray is in the latter stages of his career, his influence extends far beyond his on-field production. He’s helped build a culture of accountability and preparation in the secondary, setting a standard for young players to follow long after he retires. The Jaguars’ decision to sign Murray to a three-year extension in 2023 wasn’t just about keeping a reliable safety—it was about ensuring that the secondary continues to benefit from his leadership as they build toward a Super Bowl contention. For the Jaguars, Murray represents the value of veteran experience in a league that often prioritizes youth and athleticism. He’s proof that a player with a strong work ethic, a high football IQ, and a commitment to teamwork can be just as impactful as a first-round draft pick. Eric Murray Brings Experience to Jacksonville Jaguars’ Secondary is more than a story about a safety; it’s a story about how one player’s experience can transform a struggling unit into a strength—and how that strength can be the foundation of a championship-caliber defense. As the 2024 season progresses, Murray will continue to be the heart of the Jaguars’ secondary, leading by example and helping the team take one step closer to its goal of bringing a Super Bowl title to Jacksonville.