Aurora shooting survivor Jordan Murphy chasing NFL dream

The NFL scounting combine takes place this week and each year around this time we hear of unique stories of players chasing their dream of becoming a professional football player. This year, that story belongs to Jordan Murphy.

Murphy began his collegiate career at Colorado State before transferring to Colorado after his freshman season. During his four years he played as a fullback and on special teams. Although he did not carry the ball or catch any passes with either school, there was a brief time Murphy may not have thought his days of playing FBS football were over.

Back in the summer of 2012, Murphy was in the movie theater in Aurora, Colorado when a man entered and opened fire. 12 were killed that day and several others were injured. Murphy recently recounted the events of the day and they are chilling, to say the least.

“We ducked down, we waited a few seconds,” Murphy told ESPN. “I heard his gun click that he was out of ammunition, so we crawled as fast as we could and then stood up at the end of the row to run. I think I attracted his attention because he turned his head to me, took a shot. Don’t know if it was a shotgun or his AR-15, but the bullet hit right over my head, drywall exploded, sprayed on my face, the dust went in my eyes. At that point I’m thinking I’m not getting out, but I’m running along the way, we were getting ready to turn the corner and the bullet just smashed the drywall. They always said the reason I couldn’t play Division I as a linebacker was because I wasn’t 6-2. I’m 6 feet. If I was 6-2, I’d probably be dead because that bullet is in my head.”

Murphy was already facing an uphill battle in realizing his dream of playing for an NFL team. To stack odds against him anymore, the fullback is a position that is becoming extinct. That won’t deter Murphy from trying and it absolutely shouldn’t.

“So, you know, I’m chasing a dream and if it doesn’t work out, I’ll have a backup,” Murphy said. It will be tough not to play football, but if you give it everything you have, give it everything I can, I think I would be able to leave it behind. But I refuse to say I didn’t at least try.”

Photo credit – University of Colorado