Patrick Murtagh

Patrick Murtagh
Born (2000-02-11) 11 February 2000 (age 24)
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
American football career
No. 88 – Jacksonville Jaguars
Position:Tight end
Personal information
Height:6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:The Southport School
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Undrafted:2023
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Injured reserve/international
Australian rules football career
Personal information
Original team(s) Labrador (QAFL) / Gold Coast Suns Academy (Talent League)
Position(s) Ruck / Key Forward / Key Defender
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020–2022 Gold Coast 0 (0)

Patrick Murtagh (born 11 February 2000) is an Australian professional American football tight end for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL) and a former professional Australian rules footballer for the Gold Coast Suns in the Australian Football League (AFL). He joined the Jaguars through the International Player Pathway Program (IPPP) in 2024.

Early life

Murtagh was born in Queensland to an Australian father and a mother from Papua New Guinea.[1] He attended The Southport School[2] throughout his upbringing and was a national-level decathlete as well as a Queensland state champion.[3] He was also awarded a place on Australia’s Commonwealth pathway, a program run by the Australian government designed to subsidise college tuition, before he instead decided to pursue a professional career in Australian rules football.[4][5]

Australian rules football career

At 18 years of age, Murtagh switched sports and began playing Australian rules football for the Labrador Tigers in the semi-professional QAFL state league and worked his way through the club ranks before making his senior debut for the Labrador in June 2019.[6] He was also invited to take part in the Gold Coast Suns Academy,[7] which would lead to being drafted by his hometown professional AFL team the Gold Coast Suns as a Queensland Academy zone selection at the 2019 AFL Draft.[8]

Murtagh was placed on the Suns rookie list and played 28 games for their developmental VFL team over his three-year stint with the club, which was highlighted by a preliminary final appearance against crosstown rivals the Southport Sharks.[9][10] Throughout his Australian rules football career he played in the positions of ruck, key forward and key defender.[11] He was delisted in September 2022 without playing a top level AFL game.[1]

American football career

See also: List of players who have converted from one football code to another

In 2023, Murtagh joined the NFL International Player Pathway as a tight end.[12] On 4 May 2023, Murtagh was allocated to the Detroit Lions, but had to step down on 22 May 2023 due to a medical issue.[13][14]

Murtagh was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars on 15 April 2024.[4] He was waived/injured on 27 August 2024.[15]

Personal life

Murtagh is the son of Michael and Vala Murtagh.[16] He lost his father to cancer in 2021.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Martelli, Joel (27 January 2023). "Former AFL player breaks down remembering late father as he chases NFL dream". 7NEWS. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. ^ Boswell, Tom (16 February 2021). "Gold Coast Suns rookie Patrick Murtagh details the incredible eating habits behind his hulking frame". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  3. ^ Shipley, John (15 April 2024). "Jaguars Sign TE Patrick Murtagh Through International Player Pathway". Sports Illustrated Jacksonville Jaguars News, Analysis and More. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Oehser, John (15 April 2024). "Jaguars Sign Australian TE Patrick Murtagh". www.jaguars.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Commonwealth supported places (CSPs)". Australian Government. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  6. ^ Wilson, Terry (21 June 2019). "QAFL Round 11 Preview". AFL Queensland. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Gold Coast Suns recruit national track star into their academy". Gold Coast Bulletin. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Champion decathlete joins SUNS as Queensland Zone Selection". goldcoastfc.com.au. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Patrick Murtagh Player Bio". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  10. ^ Malchow, Alex (22 December 2022). "NFL International Player Pathway spotlight: Patrick Murtagh, TE, Australia". American Football International. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Champion decathlete joins SUNS as Queensland Zone Selection". goldcoastfc.com.au. 28 November 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  12. ^ Horesh, Laurie (4 May 2023). "Former Gold Coast Sun Murtagh joins NFL's Lions". ESPN.com. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
  13. ^ Birkett, Dave (4 May 2023). "Detroit Lions allocated Australian TE through international program". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  14. ^ Reisman, Jeremy (22 May 2023). "Lions add new international player after Patrick Murtagh has medical issue". Pride Of Detroit. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  15. ^ "Roster Moves: Jacksonville Jaguars Make The Following Roster Moves Hours Before 2024 Roster Deadline". Jaguars.com. 27 August 2024.
  16. ^ Boswell, Tom (16 February 2021). "Gold Coast Suns rookie Patrick Murtagh details the incredible eating habits behind his hulking frame". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  17. ^ "Australian tight end Patrick Murtagh signs with Jacksonville Jaguars on International Pathway Program". Fox Sports. 15 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.