Selected out of Tulane in the seventh round (166th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft, Eddie Murray faced the immediate pressure of stepping into Detroit’s primary placekicking job. The Canadian-born specialist answered with one of the most remarkable debut campaigns by a kicker in league history. Converting 27 of 42 field goals and scoring 116 points, Murray captured the NFC scoring title, earned a Pro Bowl nod, and took home PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. In the 1981 Pro Bowl, he delivered a five-field-goal clinic—becoming the first and only rookie kicker ever awarded the game’s MVP.

That record-breaking debut set a standard of steady production that defined Motown's special teams unit for over a decade. Under the Pontiac Silverdome roof, Murray had a booming leg paired with exceptional technical composure under pressure. He routinely converted long-range attempts in an era where 50-plus yarders were rare, setting a Lions franchise record in 1983 with a 54-yard strike—which he matched in the postseason that same year.

Murray’s calling card in Detroit was absolute precision. In back-to-back seasons in 1988 and 1989, he reached the absolute peak of kicking efficiency, leading the entire NFL by converting an astounding 95.2% of his field goal attempts in both years (20-of-21 in each campaign). That razor-sharp accuracy earned him his second Pro Bowl invitation following the 1989 season, solidifying his reputation as "Steady Eddie" among teammates and opponents alike.

The curtain fell on Murray's iconic run in Detroit during the spring of 1992. Following the team's run to the 1991 NFC Championship Game, the Lions opted to retool their special teams unit, waiving the 35-year-old veteran on April 29, 1992, after selecting future franchise icon Jason Hanson in the second round of the 1992 draft. While the roster move closed a twelve-year chapter, Murray departed as the Lions' all-time leading scorer with 1,113 points. He went on to play nine more NFL seasons—winning Super Bowl XXVIII with Dallas in 1993—before retiring after a legendary 21-year career.

With the Lions, Murray compiled 244 field goals made on 325 attempts (75.1%), 381 extra points made on 386 attempts (98.7%), for 1,113 points.