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Promising Vikings Defender Tries Out for Steelers
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- Promising Vikings Defender Tries Out for Steelers
Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
For a couple of weeks last summer, Minnesota Vikings fans had grand plans for outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy after the second-year defender terrorized quarterbacks in the preseason. But after Murphy failed to latch on as a meaningful contributor in the regular season, Minnesota did not sign him to a futures contract this offseason, and now the man has auditioned for the Pittsburgh Steelers' roster .
Murphy flashed in preseason last summer. Now, Pittsburgh offers a fresh evaluation and a chance to stick in a different depth chart.
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Murphy could be the newest member of the Steelers' offseason depth chart, as that franchise also searches for its next head coach.
Gabriel Murphy Gets a Steelers Look
Practice squad players can try out for new teams when the regular season ends.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Gabriel Murphy works around the edge during preseason action at U.S. Bank Stadium, applying pressure from the second level against New England. The August 16, 2025 matchup offered Murphy extended reps as he pushed for roster consideration, engaging Patriots tackle Vederian Lowe while showcasing burst and leverage in live game conditions. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Steelers Give Murphy a Look
Murphy hopes for new employment right out of the gate in the offseason.
Steelers Depot 's Alex Kozora wrote last week, "The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted linebacker Gabriel Murphy for a visit on Friday, per the NFL's daily transactions sheet. A former undrafted free agent, Murphy has appeared in three regular-season games during his two NFL seasons, both as a member of the Minnesota Vikings."
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"To date, he's recorded just a single tackle that came in 2024. In 2025, he only appeared in one game, a Week 2 loss to the Atlanta Falcons , logging 18 total snaps (13 on special teams, 5 defensively). In 2024, he logged 35 defensive snaps and recorded a QB hit in Week 14 against the Falcons."
When the Vikings announced futures contracts a couple of weeks ago, fans wondered why Murphy was omitted. That mystery will continue, and Murphy could soon be a Steeler.
Pittsburgh's OLBs Under Contract in 2026
Believe it or not, the Steelers are already pretty set at outside linebacker, which isn't terribly surprising because they're never hurting for reputable defensive personnel.
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These EDGE defenders are on the books for 2026:
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K.J. Henry
If Murphy signs, he'd battle for a roster spot at training camp and in the preseason, a familiar assignment because that's what he did with the Vikings in 2024 and 2025.
Steelers Now 's Alan Saunders on Murphy : "In pre-draft testing, Murphy showed elite speed, but is significantly undersized compared to most edge rushers. He ran a 4.68-second 40-yard dash and posted a 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-3 broad jump for an overall 9.27 Relative Athletic Score, despite height and weight in the 28th and 22nd percentile for edge rushers."
"His speed and lack of size might make Murphy a potential candidate to move to an off-ball linebacker role. He is one inch shorter and one pound heavier than current Steelers inside linebacker Malik Harrison . Murphy has an identical twin brother, Grayson Murphy , who attended North Texas and UCLA alongside him and spent time with the Miami Dolphins over the last two seasons."
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Murphy in MIN
Murphy crushed the 2025 preseason. Three games were enough to make him impossible to ignore, starting with a Houston opener where he logged five quarterback hits on a laughably small snap count. He felt like a roster lock in real time. The evaluation felt settled almost immediately. Murphy turned his fringe status into momentum, and some just assumed that he'd be a no-brainer depth piece for the regular season roster.
Then Minnesota cut him.
UCLA defensive lineman Gabriel Murphy finishes a collapsing rush during Pac-12 play at the Rose Bowl, wrapping up Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward in the backfield. On October 7, 2023, Murphy's pressure helped stall a second-half drive, highlighting his closing speed and instincts as the Bruins tightened control in Pasadena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Because the Vikings played so few starters in August, Murphy often looked like the most disruptive player on the field, even if the preseason is often fool's gold for roster projection. When final cuts arrived, the organization still let him go. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah circled back later, parking Murphy on the practice squad for the season, where his momentum disappeared.
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Minnesota's EDGE room is crowded, and no player who flashes like Murphy believes he belongs in limbo. A different team — Pittsburgh or otherwise — might offer a cleaner runway to snaps.
Vikings fans have seen this movie before. Khyiris Tonga left, landed in New England , and carved out a real role on a contender. Murphy, in theory, could follow suit.
A Look at the Vikings' EDGEs
If one assumes the Vikings don't change course and re-sign Murphy, Minnesota enters the offseason with this OLB corps:
Minnesota's defense converges late as Detroit quarterback Jared Goff loses control of the ball under pressure at U.S. Bank Stadium, with Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner closing fast. The December 25, 2025 sequence underscored Minnesota's aggressive pursuit and situational awareness during a pivotal fourth-quarter possession. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
More EDGE defenders will join the room from free agency and the draft, but at the top of the ticket, Greenard, Van Ginkel, and Turner represent a commendable trio.
Murphy will turn 26 in the autumn.
