Born on the East Coast, but raised in Victoria, BC, Murray went from working in a lumber yard after high school to attending Tulane University. After four years of kicking for the Green Wave, Murray would be selected for the Detroit Lions in the seventh round of the 1980 NFL Draft, and also the third round of the CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Over the course of his twenty years in the NFL, Murray suited up for seven different teams, including two stints with the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. Just five years after driving a forklift and playing Junior League football, Murray was named an NFL First-Team All-Pro. In 1994, Murray helped the Cowboys to a convincing 30-13 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII, kicking three field goals.
Mitch Berger: Kamloops, British Columbia
While Berger may have been seen as a journeyman punter, playing for eleven teams (twice signed by the Chicago Bears) throughout his sixteen-year career, the good thing is that it means eleven teams wanted him on their roster (he would only be a practice roster player for four of those teams).
Selected in t
he sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Berger would find himself on the move five times before securing a roster spot as the Minnesota Vikings punter. In 2008, on his tenth team, Berger would help the Pittsburgh Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLIII.Mark Rypien: Calgary, Alberta
Three years after he was born, Mark Rypien and his family moved to Spokane, Washington.
Following an award-winning high school career, Rypien moved on to play for the Washington State Cougars, before being selected by the Washington Redskins with their sixth-round pick in the 1986 NFL Draft.
During his fo
urteen-year NFL career, Rypien would suit up for six different teams (with two stints in St. Louis). Rypien would win two Super Bowl rings with the Redskins, his first as a backup and then as the starting QB in Super Bowl XXVI where he would also be named the game’s MVP. Mark’s nephew, Brett Rypien, is now a quarterback for the NFL Chicago Bears.Nate Burleson: Calgary, Alberta
He may not have the hardware that others on this list have, but the wide receiver / kick returner, who was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round of the 2003 draft is one of the most prolific Canadian-born NFL receivers of all time. In 135 games split between the Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Detroit Lions over the course of eleven years, Burleson finished with 39 touchdowns and 5,630 yards.
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