PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He was at work at Amazon Tuesday when he got a call that the Steelers wanted to work him out to potentially play linebacker for them. Tyler Murray got permission from his boss to come to Pittsburgh and now he has a new job on the Steelers practice squad.
“I got the call and I was in my uniform,” Murray explained Wednesday in the Steelers locker room. “My agent called me saying I got a workout set up for you with the Steelers. I’m going to have to tell my boss I will have to leave early. They were cool with it.”
He got a flight to Pittsburgh Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning he was signed.
Walker was originally signed in the Spring as an undrafted free agent by the Bengals out of the University of Memphis and was on the Cincinnati practice squad before being released days before their season opener.
The 6’1”, 225-pound LB said he talked to the Steelers before the draft and has relationships with Alex Highsmith (Murray played two seasons at Charlotte) and Calvin Austin (who played at Memphis). Pro Football Network said in their pre-draft scout of Murray that he’s ‘an athletic run-and-chase LB who displays ability in coverage and offers possibilities on passing downs’.
Murray says he’s versatile, previously working as a defensive back before moving to linebacker. He had 67 tackles, six for loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups last year at Memphis. During his two seasons at Charlotte he was Honorable Mention All-Conference USA in both seasons. His 128 tackles ranked 20th all-time at the school and he was a team captain his final season. The Jacksonville native started his career at Troy where he had eight tackles for loss, three sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups in 18 games. He was named Third-Team All-Sun Belt.
“I’m just looking to help the team the best way I can,” Murray said. “Special teams, practice squad, whatever I can do. I’m sorry for the linebackers that got hurt. I hope I get to meet them and learn from what they know already. I’m here to learn all I can and best help this team out.”