After graduating from GlenOak High School near his hometown of Canton, Ohio, Murphy attended West Liberty State College.
[4] At the end of his senior year, when he was playing primarily as a cornerback, Murphy was still relatively small, coming in under six feet in height and weighing in at 165 pounds.
[5] Murphy entered the starting line-up during his sophomore year at West Liberty, where he was named All-WVIAC for the first time.
In his last year of college, West Liberty won the 1979 WVIAC championship while he led the team in total tackles, interceptions, fumble recoveries and blocked kicks.
[3] Four games into the 1983 NFL season, Harvey was waived by the Packers and Murphy was made the starter at strong safety.
Teammate Tim Lewis made another interception, this time in the end zone, on the subsequent Vikings' drive.
[13] There was also concern that the injury would end his career, however after rehabilitation, Murphy returned for the 1987 NFL season, playing 12 games.
[14][15][8] His play early in the season, as well as injuries to teammates, helped Murphy reclaim his starting job as strong safety.
[8] Packers' historian Cliff Christl noted in a profile of Murphy that the most famous play of his career came in a 1989 game against the defending champion San Francisco 49ers.
[1] During his tenure with the Packers, Murphy was known as a hard-hitting, run-stopping safety who could also handle his own in pass protection, especially when playing zone coverage.
[1][5] In addition to recording 20 interceptions, 11 sacks and 13 fumble recoveries over his 147 games with the Packers, he also led the team in tackles in 1984, 1988 and 1990.
[10] In 1998, the organization inducted Murphy into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, recognizing his contributions to the team over his career.
[10] During his tenure, he coached future NBA star LeBron James, who played wide receiver during his sophomore and junior years of high school before committing to basketball.
[3] Murphy noted in an interview in the early 1980s that his hobbies included playing racquetball and that he had an interest in hand guns.