Former NFL player sentenced in Nebraska for child sex crime

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A former NFL player will spend more than four years in prison for crossing state lines to have sex with a minor.

Nicholas Murphy, 44, of Phoenix was sentenced Thursday in federal court in Omaha for coercion and enticement of a minor.

In 2021, Murphy formed a “romantic relationship” with a 17-year-old student at an Omaha dance studio, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

His wife was the owner of the studio, The Dance Authority.

In October of that year, Murphy bought the teenager a first-class ticket for a flight from Omaha to Arizona.

The teen’s mother Murphy if the minor could fly with him, authorities said, but did not know about the relationship.

After they flew to Arizona, Murphy had sexual intercourse with the minor in his hotel, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Murphy will serve 10 years on supervised release after prison.

The judge also ordered him to pay a $20,000 fine and restitution to the victim.

Murphy had a brief stint in the NFL from 2004 to 2005.

He was a punter for Baltimore, Kansas City and Philadelphia.