When Byron Murphy II thinks about the Seahawks' past game against the Steelers, he is reminded of his second game of his senior year at Texas. That season, Murphy and the Longhorns defeated Alabama and snapped the Crimson Tide's 21-game home win streak. Outside of the win, that game is one Murphy said he felt everything click for him.
"I just put in my mind, it's time to roll, it's time to go, and my main focus was just really just being consistent and being that dominant player I know I can be week in and week out. That's what I did that last year, my last year of college. So just seeing myself have that game against the Steelers, I'm like, 'How do I build off this? How can I keep going and keep having this type of success?' That was my main thing from the game. So just really trying to stay consistent each and every day and just make strides, continue to make those type of strides so I can have those type of games."
Against the Steelers, Murphy recorded 1.5 sacks, tying his regular season number from his rookie year. Throughout the entire offseason, teammates and coaches have raved about the sort of player Murphy is.
During training camp, Jarran Reed went on to call Murphy, "strong as sh*t" multiple times in one press conference. This week, Leonard Williams said Murphy can, "play a double team better than me," and head coach Mike Macdonald is just happy that there are now stats to back up how well Murphy has been playing.
"The tape tells a similar story of how well he's playing," Macdonald said. "But production does matter, obviously, especially individually, so I'm happy that he was able to get the production he got on Sunday."
The stats for Murphy also bring a bit of personal satisfaction.
"It brings a lot of confidence," he said. "After that game, it just triggered in my mind like, 'OK, I can do it. I can be that guy. I can get sacks week in, week out.' But it's all about my preparation and everything, just how I prepare. It brought a lot of confidence in me though."
Defensive coordinator Aden Durde said, "I feel it's good for him… When someone does the work and they do, especially him, he does a lot of dirty work, but some people cannot appreciate at times, but it helps the defense in a huge way. When he gets some rewards for it, you can see that it helps him with his confidence is kind of as the next step of him. But he's done a great job this weekend."
While the stats were good to finally to put to paper, that's not what he's worried about the most.
"Me personally, I'm not too worried about stats, tackles," he said. "All of that's going to come, that's going to come within the game. But me, my main focus is on doing my job and helping my team win. And also too, just helping guys around me make plays. So when I see a guy make a play, it's me doing my job. It might not show up on the stat sheet, but who cares? It is all about the team. That's all I'm about."
While the stats are finally showing for Murphy, his teammates have always had the confidence in him.
"That support meant a lot," he said. "The day I got drafted, they've been supporting me from day one. They took me up under their wing and I'm very thankful to have those guys in my room because they've been doing it for so long. So just to have them, that's a blessing for me. So I'm just trying to just, each and every day, just soak up all of the knowledge I can from them. Just be like a sponge. They teach me a lot and it's not just football either. It is off the field things too, just on how to be a man and everything. So I appreciate them guys a lot."
Williams said, "I think especially being an interior defensive lineman and a first rounder myself, I understand that it takes a little bit of time to develop in those trenches. But I also know that once you've had a game like that under your belt, it just starts to make you believe that this is your style of play. That's the type of player you are. And I think now that he's had a game under his belt, he'll start to believe it."
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center as they get ready to host the New Orleans Saints in Week 3.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) and cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles (34) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Jamie Sheriff (50) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Dareke Young (83) and cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II (91) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle Brandon Pili (95) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks nose tackle J.R. Singleton (70) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams (99) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde at practice on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety D'Anthony Bell (23) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) and running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (0) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu (7) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe (29) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed (90) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin (24) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks linebacker Chazz Surratt (44) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Coby Bryant (8) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks safety Jerrick Reed II (32) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Derion Kendrick (1) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks fullback Robbie Ouzts (40) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Jackson (84) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (18) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III (9) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) and wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks running back George Holani (36) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Dareke Young (83) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks center Jalen Sundell (61) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks tackle Charles Cross (67) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett (28) and wide receiver Tyrone Broden (85) practiced on Wednesday, September 17, 2025 at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
