CM #33

Caleb Murphy

Linebacker · Ferris State

Caleb Murphy set the NCAA single-season sack record at Ferris State before grinding his way onto NFL rosters as an undrafted free agent.

Caleb Murphy is one of the more improbable pro football stories in the league, a Division II record-setter who has fought through practice squads and waiver claims to stay on an NFL roster. He now lines up as a linebacker for the Giants after stints with the Titans, Chargers, and Patriots.

★ NCAA single-season record: 25.5 sacks (2022, Ferris State)

★ Ted Hendricks Award winner, 2022 (first non-FBS player to win it)

★ Two-time NCAA Division II national champion (2021, 2022)

★ GLIAC Player of the Year, 2022

Path to the league

Murphy began his college career at Grand Valley State before transferring to Ferris State, where a canceled 2020 season delayed his breakout. He went undrafted in 2023 and signed with the Tennessee Titans.

Career highlights

As a senior in 2022, Murphy set the NCAA single-season record with 25.5 sacks and tied the NCAA record with 39 tackles for loss, helping Ferris State win back-to-back Division II national championships. He won the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's top defensive end, becoming the first non-FBS player to claim the honor, and also collected the Gene Upshaw and Cliff Harris Awards that season.

2025 season recap

Murphy bounced through three organizations during the 2025 season, appearing for the Chargers before being claimed by the New England Patriots in October and then claimed off waivers by the New York Giants in December. He re-signed with the Giants in March 2026, giving him a chance to stick as part of the linebacker rotation.