James Murphy was drafted No. 266 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft out of Utah State. 10 regular-season games
- Overall pick
- #266
- Round
- 10
- Draft class
- 1981
- NFL games
- 10
The pick
How James Murphy came off the board in 1981.
- Position
- Wide receiver WR
- Side of the ball
- Offense
NFL career
10 regular-season games
- Games played
- 10
- Final season
- 19810 years after the draft
Around pick 266
Who came off the board on either side of James Murphy.
Michigan
Boston College
Washington State
Utah State in the 1981 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other WR picks from Utah State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
James Murphy in the 1981 NFL Draft
James Murphy is a Wide receiver out of Utah State selected No. 266 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft. 10 regular-season games Utah State has produced 41 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was James Murphy drafted?
James Murphy was selected No. 266 overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1981 NFL Draft (Rd 10). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-murphy.
What college did James Murphy play for?
James Murphy played college football at Utah State in the Mountain West. See every Utah State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/utah-state-aggies.
How did James Murphy's NFL career turn out?
10 regular-season games Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1981/james-murphy.