Liam Coen praises Eric Murray’s violent playstyle and veteran consistency, highlighting how the safety’s stabilizing presence unlocks Antonio Johnson’s versatility within the Jaguars' evolving secondary.
Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen spoke about safety Eric Murray's impact.
Coen took some time at Jaguars' minicamp to rave about Murray, talking about his experience and ability to stabilize the back of the defense. The presence of Murray, who, like Coen, is entering his second season with Jacksonville, also allows fellow safety Antonio Johnson to move around all over the field.
"Huge,' Coen quipped about Murray's experience. "It allows us to be able to move Antonio around and that in the back end we've got consistency. A guy that's going to come down and make plays in the run game, get us in the right checks and balances in the back end from a coverage standpoint. Eric plays the game nasty. He plays this game violently. He's made some plays on the ball."
Johnson may be the Jaguars' safety who receives the most headlines. As PFF's top-graded safety in 2025, he deserves every accolade he gets. However, having Murray at the other safety spot affords the defense the freedom to unlock Johnson's versatility.
Murray Is A Calming Presence For Defense
The 32-year-old Murray is a calming presence for the defense. He came to the Jaguars before last season after spending the previous five years with the Houston Texans. Murray played in 12 games in 2025, missing five after suffering a neck injury that affected the nerves.
Coen believes that having a healthy Murray for 2026 will lead to an even better season for the veteran. The HC also talked about Murray's ability to practice the right way, something that will hopefully rub off on Jacksonville's young safeties.
"He understands how to practice," Coen said. "He's just not a guy who's going to be able to go make a play on the ball without running through the receiver, and just pros know how to stay off the ground. Pros know how to understand angles in practice to tag off and not hit people. He's just a pro's pro, and I really think if he can continue to stay healthy, we're going to see a better player this year out of Eric."
Murray also brings more to the defense than just coverage ability. Coen mentioned that he is also a willing defender against the run and excels at communicating with his teammates and making the proper pre-snap adjustments.
Final Thoughts
With a defense that has stars like Johnson, Josh Hines-Allen, and Travon Walker, it's easy for a player like Murray to be underappreciated. He's not a flashy safety, but brings a ton of experience and consistency to the position.
Coach Coen and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile know what a player like Murray brings to a defense. Murray will continue to be one of the most trusted players on the Jags' defense in 2026. Combined with Johnson, Jacksonville should have one of the league's better safety pairings.
Murray should also continue to have a positive impact on the Jaguars' young safeties. Caleb Ransaw, Jalen Huskey, and Rayuan Lane will all benefit from learning under a grizzled veteran like Murray.
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