Oklahoma Sooners lose another coach to the NFL, further reinforcing the positive impact Brent Venables has had as head coach
The Sooners have lost another coach to the NFL.
The Oklahoma Sooners have already lost one member from their 2025 coaching staff to the NFL, when defensive backs coach Jay Valai left to take the same job with the Buffalo Bills. Now, a second may be on their way to the pros.
Running backs coach DeMarco Murray will be taking the same job with the Kansas City Chiefs, a source tells me. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported late Wednesday evening that Murray was a strong coach of interest, but as of the time of this writing, the expectation in the program is that he will be leaving for Kansas City.
What DeMarco Murray’s departure means for the Sooners
This isn’t the first time the Sooners have had to fend off other teams, both in the NFL and in college football, for Murray. Two years ago, the Ohio State Buckeyes tried to make Murray the highest-paid running backs coach in college football when Tony Alford departed for the Michigan Wolverines, and the Penn State Nittany Lions were in hot pursuit of Murray last season.
Both the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders have also offered Murray the same role in the past, but he has stayed in Norman through it all. However, the chance to coach alongside Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy on a legitimate Super Bowl contender is an appealing job.
His departure means that the Sooners will mark the third assistant coach the Sooners and Brent Venables will have had to replace this offseason. Oklahoma “mutually parted ways” with tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley last month and hired future Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Witten to replace him. Two coaches being plucked off of the staff for NFL jobs is a testament to the acumen that Brent Venables is adding to the staff in Norman.
Now, the Sooners will have to find his replacement. There will be no shortage of candidates interested in the job, and I’d expect Oklahoma will work fast to have one in place very quickly.
Oklahoma Sooners News
Oklahoma Sooners, Brent Venables turn to familiar foe to hire intriguing coach with plenty of upside to replace NFL-bound coach
The Sooners have filled their final opening on staff with a hire from left field.
