When you share your name with one of the most famous comedic actors in the history of show business, that’s got to be a good thing. Tell that to Chicago Bears’ second-string offensive lineman, #60 Bill Murray. If Chicago Bears’ guard Bill Murray had a dollar for every time he introduced himself to someone who responded, “You mean like the actor Bill Murray?” the Bears’ Bill Murray would be rich. Let’s get to know him.
Murray’s Early Journey
Bill Murray is from Millington, New Jersey, where he grew up playing football and lacrosse. Murray attended high school at Delbarton in Morristown, NJ, where he played defensive line and accrued 52 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, ten sacks, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Murray was a team captain his senior year and earned several local and national first-team and second-team honors. He also contributed to the Delbarton Lacrosse team’s 2014 state championship.
Murray went on to play collegiate football for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was a three-year starter for The Tribe on the defensive line and put together 143 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 19 sacks ten blocked kicks, six passes defended, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries throughout his career. Those numbers earned him some attention from NFL scouts, but the COVID-19 pandemic complicated things for Bill Murray’s potential path to the NFL.
NFL or Bust
Even though Bill Murray was a team captain his senior year at William and Mary and earned All-America First-Team accolades along with many others, he was not invited to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Murray had to settle for the William and Mary Pro Day to demonstrate his skills to scouts. Unfortunately, the NFL canceled William and Mary’s Pro Day just three days before it was scheduled to occur. Luckily, Murray had time to go to a private athletic testing facility and stream his workout live on Facebook, where scouts could see him in action.
Murray tested towards the top of all 46 defensive linemen in his draft class with 30 reps of 225 pounds on bench press. He also had respectable numbers with a 4.93 sec 40-yard dash time, a 32.5-inch vertical jump, and a 9-4 broad jump. Murray resorted to Zoom calls and other technologies to help facilitate interviews with NFL franchises. After jumping through the hoops, Bill Murray went undrafted but was signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots in April 2020. Murray made the Patriots practice squad in 2020 and 2021, then made a major change in 2022.
The Big Change
In 2022, while a member of the New England Patriots, defensive lineman Bill Murray changed positions to offensive guard. This monumental shift better matched his size and skillset than playing defensive line. He took to the change like a natural but still needed time to hone his new craft on the practice squad until he was called up to the active roster for three separate games, finally seeing action on a PAT attempt in the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills on December 1st. Bill Murray only played on two more snaps in that game and none for the rest of the season.
Bill Murray made the practice squad for the Chicago Bears in 2023 but never saw any regular season action. After a solid 2024 preseason campaign, Murray made a 53-man roster for the first time in his NFL career with the Chicago Bears as a 3rd string offensive lineman. After a tumultuous start to the season for the Bears offensive line, the coaching staff started making some depth chart changes after an injury to Ryan Bates in week 1 and Nate Davis getting benched for performance reasons in week 3.
Bill Murray suddenly found himself as a second-string guard for the Chicago Bears. Murray experienced his first game action in week 5 against the Carolina Panthers, where he played 37 snaps, filling in for an injured Teven Jenkins. Murray played well, not allowing any pressures to get to Caleb Williams and holding his own in the running game. Bill Murray saw three snaps at guard against the Jaguars in week 6, proving to be a reliable backup for the rest of the season.
Final Thoughts
Bill Murray is a smart and resourceful athlete, demonstrating that he can switch positions at the highest level of competition in the world. His resourcefulness may stem from him earning his Eagle Scout and being a well-rounded athlete who enjoys other sports like skiing and lacrosse. The Chicago Bears are fortunate to have a cerebral player who demonstrates a never-give-up attitude to help them at a thin position group that has struggled early in the season but is showing significant signs of improvement in the last three weeks. Don’t ask him if he’s an actor; ask him to keep working hard for the Chicago Bears.
For More Great Content
Craving top-tier content that covers it all? From electrifying sports highlights and insider entertainment news to expert gaming tips and sharp betting advice, we’ve got you covered. Dive into our curated articles to stay ahead of the game with the latest sports action, uncover the hottest trends in entertainment, and get the lowdown on gaming strategies that could level up your play.
Plus, our betting advice will sharpen your edge and boost your chances of winning big. Whether you’re looking to stay updated or gain a competitive edge, our content is your go-to source for all things exciting and relevant. Don’t miss out—explore now and power up your knowledge! Follow us on Twitter/X @TotalApexSports, to stay informed.
