Running back DeMarco Murray was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Tennessee Titans this past offseason. But did you know Murray was almost traded back to the Dallas Cowboys?
According to Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, a reunion with Murray and the Cowboys was “close,”, but the Eagles preferred to trade Murray to a team outside the division, which explains why they settled on Tennessee.
“It was like 95 percent sure I was going to come back there,” Murray told Williams in a phone interview. “I have a lot of respect for those guys — the Jones family, Will [McClay], coach [Jason] Garrett obviously and [Tony] Romo and Wit [Jason Witten], all those guys. I still consider them a great franchise, and they’re great friends of mine.”
“I was very close to going back there. There were some things that fell through and just didn’t happen. I think everything happens for a reason. I’m here, and I’m supposed to be here. They’ve got a pretty good young back over there as well.”
Murray had his best season with the Cowboys in 2014, rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns while earning Offensive Player of the Year. The Eagles signed him to a five-year, $42 million contract during the 2015 offseason, but Murray struggled in then-head coach Chip Kelly’s offense.
In retrospect, the trade from Philadelphia to Tennessee has benefited Murray. He currently ranks second in the league in rushing with 461 yards. Meanwhile, Ezekiel Elliott, who the Cowboys drafted this year, has a league-leading 546 yards.
