The Dallas Cowboys have a long history of elite running backs. Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, Ezekiel Elliott, etc. You can make a case that no franchise in NFL history has had a better stable of running backs than the Cowboys, and you would likely be right. But one of the most memorable seasons from a Cowboys running back wasn’t by Smith, Dorsett, or even Elliott. It might have been the 2014 run by DeMarco Murray.
Murray broke out during the 2013 season, rushing for 1,121 yards and nine touchdowns in his third year in the league. Murray was a part-time player during the first two seasons of his career, but became the every-down back in 2013 and was selected to the Pro Bowl. But no one saw his 2014 season coming.
That season was so special that he landed on an elite list this week, courtesy of ESPN. Benjamin Solak ranked the best selection at every pick in NFL draft history, and Murray’s pick at No. 71 was obvious. Here is what Solak had to say about the former 2011 selection from Oklahoma:
"Pick No. 71 isn't a strong group, so I'll let Murray's legendary 2014 season carry him to the top: 392 carries, 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns, with another 57 catches for 416 yards to boot. The 449 touches remains the sixth highest-volume season in NFL history, and given the way backs are managed these days, it will likely stay that way for a while."
Former Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray was incredibly underrated
Murray's 1,845 rushing yards were the most by a Dallas Cowboys player in franchise history, beating out Smith’s 1995 season (1,773). But Murray wasn’t just a dominating runner as he caught 57 passes for 416 yards that year, bringing his yards from scrimmage total to 2,261 yards (15th most all-time).
Murray left in free agency during the following offseason, signing with the Eagles. A year later, he would be traded to the Titans, and he would eventually be out of the league two years later. It was a short peak for Murray, but his 2014 season was one of the most impressive in league history.
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The other top contenders for this spot include Duce Staley, Nnamdi Madubuike, Morgan Burnett, and Nate Burleson, so it is easy to see why Murray was the pick. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2014 and finished third in the MVP voting behind only Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo.
Murray played behind one of the best offensive lines in franchise history, but his production and durability that season were unmatched. He’s one of the great forgotten Cowboys, and it’s nice to see him getting the honor and respect that he deserves.
And one day, he'll be a great trivia answer to which Cowboys running back has the most rushing yards in a single season.