In his career as a coach and/or general manager, he led various teams to nine Grey Cup championships, earning a spot in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
He attended Vancouver College, a K-12 independent Catholic school for boys served by the Congregation of Christian Brothers in British Columbia, where he was a football standout.
In 1973, Murphy left Hawaii for the San Jose State Spartans under head coach Darryl Rogers.
In 1983, Murphy was hired by Paul Robson of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and spent 14 years as head coach and general manager.
He was an outspoken opponent of CFL expansion to the United States, believing it put a risk to the uniqueness of the Canadian game, and challenged the goodwill relationship long-maintained with the NFL.
Murphy was elected into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2004, and was a scout for the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts at the time of his death.