DeMarco Murray
A punishing runner whose 2014 season was a masterclass in durability and power, he carried the Dallas Cowboys offense on his back.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American football player and coach·Birthday: February 12·Millennials
Biography
DeMarco Murray didn't just run the football; he attacked defenses with a blend of elegant patience and violent intent. At the University of Oklahoma, he shattered the school's all-purpose yardage record, setting the stage for a professional career defined by one spectacular, record-setting year. In 2014, as the engine of the Dallas Cowboys' dominant offensive line, Murray led the NFL in rushing, piling up 1,845 yards and scoring 13 touchdowns. His league-leading 392 carries were a display of sheer will, earning him Offensive Player of the Year honors. Stops in Philadelphia and Tennessee followed, where he continued to be a productive force, making three Pro Bowls in total. His transition to coaching, now with the Kansas City Chiefs, allows him to impart the lessons of his relentless, downhill style to a new generation.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
DeMarco was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When DeMarco Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
DeMarco's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2014 after leading the league in rushing yards (1,845) and touchdowns (13).
- Became the Dallas Cowboys' single-season rushing leader in 2014, breaking a record held by Emmitt Smith.
- Earned three Pro Bowl selections (2013, 2014, 2016) and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2014.
- Set the University of Oklahoma record for career all-purpose yards (6,718) during his collegiate career.
Did You Know?
He is of partial Jamaican descent through his grandmother.
In high school, he was a teammate of NFL quarterback Sam Bradford at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
He is one of only three players in NFL history to begin a season with eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games.
He caught a 91-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo in 2013, the longest reception by a Cowboys running back since 1963.
“I just try to be the same guy every day, not get too high, not get too low.”
