‘It’s a full circle moment’: Former NFL player and his daughter share Lions team bond

WATERFORD, Mich. (WILX) - Eddie Murray was a kicker in the NFL for nearly two decades. His daughter, Nicole Murray, was on the dance team for four years at Michigan State University. Now, she is a Detroit Lions cheerleader.

“It’s been a proud mom-and-dad moment for us,” said Eddie. “I mean, when she told us last year she was going to do this, she had always wanted to continue her dance from Michigan State—she danced there four years, was captain of the team—great experiences. She said, ‘if I go to the next level, I got to go the NFL route or pro-team route.’”

So a Murray is back in the NFL with what other team than where her dad starred?

“I’ve always been a football fan—always been an Eddie Murray fan,” said Nicole. “So, just the Detroit Lions being the home team and being able to do what I love for a team that I love, and combining the two, it’s just so special.”

Nicole’s mom, Cindy, grew up in Lansing and was a professional ballroom dancer. So, Nicole started dancing at a very young age.

“[Nicole] had a natural ability to dance and just excelled and loved it,” said Cindy. “And we tried ice skating, and she did like one run and said, ‘Okay, I’m done with that,’ and then she really took to dance. So we loved that.”

“[Cindy] was on the show ‘Dance Fever,’ and my dad was a celebrity judge on the show,” said Nicole. “So that’s actually how they met. When my dad was still playing football when I was born, they put me in dance, I think, at two or three years old and just kind of stuck, and here I am now.”

“It’s a full circle moment,” said Cindy. “I could get very emotional. When they were in the playoffs 32 years ago, Ed and I had just gotten engaged. And now to see 32 years later that our daughter is on the field. But we were lucky enough to get sideline passes last week, and so it was 32 years later to be on there with our daughter, who is now on the dance team. It was such a special moment, and to feel the electricity in the crowd even before it started. People walking by. Everyone’s high-fiving!”

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