Sean Murphy-Bunting

American football player (born 1997)

American football player
Sean Murphy-Bunting
refer to caption
Murphy-Bunting in 2023
No. 23 – Arizona Cardinals
Position:Cornerback
Personal information
Born: (1997-06-19) June 19, 1997 (age 26)
Macomb, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Chippewa Valley (Clinton Township, Michigan)
College:Central Michigan (2016–2018)
NFL draft:2019 / Round: 2 / Pick: 39
Career history
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019–2022)
  • Tennessee Titans (2023)
  • Arizona Cardinals (2024–present)
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • Super Bowl champion (LV)
  • PFWA All-Rookie Team (2019)
  • First team All-MAC (2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:245
Sacks:1.0
Pass deflections:29
Interceptions:8
Forced fumbles:6
Fumble recoveries:2
Defensive touchdowns:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Sean Murphy-Bunting (formerly Bunting, born June 19, 1997) is an American football cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL).[1] He played college football at Central Michigan.

Early years

Murphy-Bunting attended and played high school football at Chippewa Valley High School.[2]

College career

Murphy-Bunting played three seasons for the Chippewas, starting his sophomore and junior seasons.[3] As a sophomore, he recorded five interceptions, which finished second in the Mid-American Conference (MAC).[4] As a junior, Murphy-Bunting recorded 37 tackles and two interceptions and was named first team All-MAC0.[5] He decided to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.[6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in
(1.84 m) 		195 lb
(88 kg) 		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m) 		9+5⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.42 s 1.51 s 2.59 s 4.20 s 6.89 s 41.5 in
(1.05 m)		 10 ft 6 in
(3.20 m)		 14 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2019 season

Murphy-Bunting was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round with the 39th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.[9]

In Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints, Murphy-Bunting recorded his first career interception off Teddy Bridgewater in the 31–24 loss.[10] In Week 13, during a 28–11 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Murphy-Bunting recorded a critical fourth quarter interception off of fellow rookie Gardner Minshew in the Buccaneers's end zone to prevent a potential score.[11] In Week 15, during a 38–17 win against the Detroit Lions, Murphy-Bunting had a team-leading eight tackles, one pass deflection, and an interception off of fellow rookie David Blough which he returned 70 yards for his first career touchdown.[12] In Week 16, during a 23–20 loss to the Houston Texans, Murphy-Bunting had four tackles, one pass deflection, and his first career sack on Deshaun Watson which resulted in a fumble.[13]

Murphy-Bunting finished his rookie season with 44 tackles, one sack, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, one interception return touchdown, and one forced fumble.[14]

2020 season

Murphy-Bunting (#23) playing in Wild Card Playoff game against the Washington Football Team.

In Week 8 against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football, Murphy–Bunting recorded his first interception of the season off a pass thrown by Daniel Jones during the 25–23 win.[15] Overall, he finished the 2020 season with 70 total tackles, one interception, two passes defended, one fumble, and one fumble recovery in 16 games.[16]

In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs against the Washington Football Team, Murphy-Bunting intercepted a pass thrown by Taylor Heinicke during the 31–23 win.[17] In the Divisional Round against the Saints, Murphy-Bunting intercepted a pass thrown by Drew Brees during the 30–20 win.[18] In the NFC Championship against the Green Bay Packers, Murphy-Bunting recorded six total tackles, a pass deflection, and intercepted a pass thrown by Aaron Rodgers as the Buccaneers defeated the Packers 31–26 to advance to Super Bowl LV,[19] where they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31–9, to give Murphy-Bunting his first Super Bowl championship.[20][21] With this playoff run, Murphy-Bunting became the first player with an interception in each of his first three career playoff games since Hall of Famer Ed Reed.[22]

2021 season

On September 13, 2021, Murphy-Bunting was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated elbow in the first quarter of a 31–29 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the opener.[23] He was activated on November 22.[24] In the 2021 season, he appeared in nine games and started eight. He finished with 43 total tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.[25]

2022 season

In the 2022 season, Murphy-Bunting appeared in 12 games and started five. He finished with 31 total tackles, two interceptions, seven passes defensed, and one forced fumble.[26]

Tennessee Titans

On March 20, 2023, Murphy-Bunting signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans.[27] He became the first player in Titans history to wear the #0 after it was allowed beginning in the 2023 season.[28] He started 14 games in 2023, recording 57 tackles, eight passes defensed, and two interceptions.

Arizona Cardinals

On March 14, 2024, Murphy-Bunting signed a three-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.[29]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Won the Super Bowl
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2019 TB 16 10 44 37 7 1.0 0 8 3 88 29.3 70 1 1 0 0 0
2020 TB 16 13 70 53 17 0.0 0 3 1 0 0.0 0 0 1 1 3 0
2021 TB 9 8 43 30 13 0.0 0 3 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 0 0 0
2022 TB 12 5 31 110 12 0.0 0 7 2 33 16.5 33 0 1 0 0 0
Total 53 36 188 139 49 1.0 0 21 6 121 20.2 70 1 4 1 3 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sack Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR Yds TD
2020 TB 4 4 19 15 4 0.0 0 5 3 36 12.0 36 0 0 0 0 0
2021 TB 1 0 4 2 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 1 10 0
2022 TB 1 1 6 4 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 6 5 29 21 8 0.0 0 5 3 36 12.0 36 0 0 1 10 0

References

  1. ^ "Roster: Sean Murphy-Bunting". buccaneers.com. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  2. ^ Petzold, Evan (March 16, 2019). "Life of an underdog: Sean Bunting operates inconspicuously to become prized NFL prospect". www.cm-life.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sean Bunting College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "2017 Mid-American Conference Leaders". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Sean Bunting 2018 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Crawford, Kirkland (April 26, 2019). "Tampa Bay Buccaneers take CMU's Sean Bunting in Round 2 of NFL draft". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 27, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Sean Bunting College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  9. ^ Yarcho, James (April 26, 2019). "Buccaneers Select Sean Bunting With Second Round Pick". BucsNation.com. SB Nation. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  10. ^ "Bridgewater's breakout lifts Saints past Bucs 31–24". www.espn.com. Associated Press. October 6, 2019. Archived from the original on October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  11. ^ "Bucs turn Foles' turnovers into touchdowns, beat Jags 28–11". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 2, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Winston throws 4 TDs, helps Buccaneers beat Lions 38–17". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 15, 2019. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Texans win AFC South title with victory over Bucs". www.espn.com. Associated Press. December 21, 2019. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  14. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting 2019 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  15. ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New York Giants – November 2nd, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting 2020 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  17. ^ "Wild Card – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Washington Football Team – January 9th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved January 10, 2021.
  18. ^ "Divisional Round – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints – January 17th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
  19. ^ "NFC Championship – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers – January 24th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 29, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  20. ^ Patra, Kevin (February 7, 2017). "What we learned from Buccaneers win over Chiefs in Super Bowl LV". NFL.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  21. ^ "Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 7th, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  22. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting in elite company with playoff interception streak". Bucs Wire. January 25, 2021. Archived from the original on March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  23. ^ Smith, Scott (September 13, 2021). "Bucs Promote Andrew Adams, Put Two on IR". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  24. ^ Smith, Scott (November 22, 2021). "Sean Murphy-Bunting, Zach Triner Activated from IR". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2021. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting 2021 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  26. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  27. ^ Wyatt, Jim (March 20, 2023). "Titans Agree to Terms with Former Buccaneers Cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  28. ^ "Sean Murphy-Bunting will wear No. 0 jersey for Titans". NBC Sports. April 5, 2023. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  29. ^ Urban, Darren (March 14, 2024). "Cardinals Make Official Six Free Agent Additions". AZCardinals.com.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sean Murphy-Bunting.
  • Tennessee Titans bio
  • Central Michigan Chippewas bio
  • Sean Murphy-Bunting on Twitter
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