The 51st Mr. Irrelevant and Celebration of the Underdog, University of Buffalo inside linebacker Red Murdock, will go down in football history as the last pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
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But Murdock, who was roasted, toasted and honored during Irrelevant Week in Newport Beach, is at the top of his class.
Selected 257th overall by the Denver Broncos, Murdock became the first Broncos draft pick to agree to a contract with the team in early May.
Shortly thereafter, Murdock, who previously graduated magna cum laude with a degree in psychology, earned his master’s degree in educational studies. On the field, Murdock made history at Buffalo as the NCAA’s all-time leader in forced fumbles with 17.
“(Murdock) represents everything that’s good about college football,” Buffalo Coach Pete Lembo said.
Murdock, a finalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, considered the academic Heisman Trophy, was awarded the Lowsman Trophy on June 24 at the Irrelevant Week Arrival Party at The Cannery, a waterfront restaurant where Mr. Irrelevant arrived via yacht, captained by Irrelevant Week volunteer Rich Fischbeck, and received several gifts, proclamations and a key to the city.
Former NFL players, civic leaders and dignitaries helped celebrate with Murdock, including Newport Beach Police Deputy Chief Joshua Vincenlet, who expanded on Murdock’s undergraduate degree and offered him a job after his playing career.
“Red, if you want to come back to Newport Beach after your football career, we would be happy to get you on board and put that psychology degree to good use,” Vincenlet said.
Brian O’Rourke, chief lifeguard for the Newport Beach Fire Department’s Marine Operations Division, presented Murdock with an orange life vest for his surfing lesson, prompting Irrelevant Week CEO Melanie Salata Fitch to quip: “It says Titanic on it.”
Murdock’s postgraduate football coach Frank Arritt revealed that Murdock’s 4.3 grade-point average at Fort Union Military Academy was the highest in the football program.
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Former NFL quarterback Paul McDonald (USC), a popular Newport Beach resident and longtime Irrelevant Week supporter, served as emcee and offered Murdock some unsolicited advice on his upcoming career. McDonald also explained Mr. Irrelevant’s academic accomplishments to the vivacious crowd.
“For all those who don’t think athletes study, Red proves that they do,” McDonald said. “And for all those who don’t know what magna cum laude means, it means he’s really smart.”
When asked about his experience as Mr. Irrelevant, Murdock said he was “grateful.”
Before his surfing lesson, Murdock was presented with a nine-foot surfboard as a gift from Corona del Mar Properties and created by surfboard shaper Wayne Smith.
In addition to a surfing lesson and receiving the Lowsman Trophy, Murdock participated in a sailing regatta, enjoyed an Angel game, a day at Disneyland and Irrelevant Week’s world-famous pub crawl, as well as a beach party with kids and families from Save Our Youth, Serving People In Need and other charities.
The Lowsman Trophy is the so-called cousin of the Heisman Trophy, awarded to college football’s top player, except the bronze-sculpted player depicted on the Lowsman is fumbling a football.
Murdock is the second Denver Broncos last draft pick to be honored as Mr. Irrelevant, following Chad Kelly in 2017.
Former NFL player and longtime Newport Beach philanthropist Paul Salata started Irrelevant Week in 1976.
Richard Dunn, a longtime sportswriter, writes the Dunn Deal column regularly for The Orange County Register’s weekly, The Coastal Current North.
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