Derico "Rico" Murray (born August 21, 1988) is an American former professional gridiron football defensive back and

linebacker Linebacker (LB) is a playing position in gridiron football. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage and the defensive linemen. They are the "middle ground" of defenders, ...

. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an

undrafted free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

in 2011. He played college football at Kent State. He has also been a member of the Edmonton Eskimos,

Toronto Argonauts The Toronto Argonauts (officially the Toronto Argonaut Football Club and colloquially known as the Argos) are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), based in Toronto, Ontario ...

Ottawa Redblacks The Ottawa Redblacks (officially stylized as REDBLACKS) (French: Le Rouge et Noir d'Ottawa) are a professional Canadian football team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The team plays in the East Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Starting ...

, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; french: Ligue canadienne de football—LCF) is a professional sports league in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football. The league consists of nine teams, each located in a ci ...

(CFL).

College career

Murray played 47 games in four seasons (2005–08) at Kent State. He registered a total of 218 defensive tackles (125 solo, 93 assisted), 18 pass breakups, four interceptions, three fumbles forced and two fumble recoveries with the Golden Flashes. In his senior team as a captain he had 72 defensive tackles (47 solo, 27 assisted) and led team with seven pass breakups.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

After going undrafted in the

2009 NFL Draft The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York, on April 25 and 26, 2009. ...

, Murray signed as a

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 Murray was on the 53-man roster bubble. However, he was released following the first game of the 2011 season on September 14, 2011. He re-joined the Bengals practice squad on January 3, 2012, and was waived on April 12, 2012. During his three-year tenure in the NFL Murray played in 9 games and made 19 tackles.

Edmonton Eskimos

He signed with the Edmonton Eskimos on June 4, 2012.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the

(CFL) on July 6, 2013. Murray played four seasons for the Ti-Cats, seeing action in 50 games and contributing 180 tackles on defense, 11 on special teams, 9 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles and 3 sacks. Following the 2016 season he was not re-signed by the Ti-Cats and became a

Toronto Argonauts

Murray signed with the Ti-Cats' divisional rival, the

, on March 3, 2017. Murray recorded 55 tackles, one interception returned for a score, one sack, and one forced fumble during the year, which would culminate in his being named a CFL East All Star for the second time. Murray also won his first Grey Cup when the Argos defeated the

Calgary Stampeders The Calgary Stampeders are a professional Canadian football team based in Calgary, Alberta. The Stampeders compete in the West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The club plays its home games at McMahon Stadium and are the third-o ...

, 27-24.

Ottawa Redblacks

On the second day of free agency, February 14, 2018, Murray and the

agreed to a one-year contract. Murray proved to be a good fit in the Ottawa defense, playing in all 18 games, and leading in CFL in interceptions with 5 (alongside several other players, including teammate Jonathan Rose). Two of these picks came against his former team, Toronto. Murray also put up 55 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 3 tackles on special teams, and was named to his third CFL-East All-Star team. Murray was also the team nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. Murray advanced to his fourth career Grey Cup game, but were defeated by Calgary.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (II)

After their loss in the

106th Grey Cup The 106th Grey Cup (branded as the 106th Grey Cup presented by Shaw for sponsorship reasons) was the Canadian Football League (CFL) championship game for the 2018 season. It was played on November 25, 2018, between the Ottawa Redblacks and the ...

, Ottawa did not extend Murray after his All-Star 2018 season. Murray continued his excellent play, with 50 tackles in 18 games played, and two more interceptions, with one taken back for a score. Murray also made 8 tackles in the playoffs, including his fifth Grey Cup game, a losing effort to Winnipeg. After several days as a free agent in early 2019, Murray signed a contract to rejoin the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Murray retired from professional football on February 18, 2021.

References

External links

Hamilton Tiger-Cats bio

Cincinnati Bengals bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murray, Rico 1987 births Living people American football cornerbacks Edmonton Elks players Cincinnati Bengals players Kent State Golden Flashes football players Players of American football from Cincinnati Players of Canadian football from Cincinnati Hamilton Tiger-Cats players Toronto Argonauts players Ottawa Redblacks players Canadian football defensive backs