Two-time National League Manager of the Year Murphy inks a three-year extension with the Milwaukee Brewers

With 2026 marking the last year of his current contract, two-time National League Manager of the Year Pat Murphy only wants to remain in Milwaukee, and the Brewers do not want anyone else leading the team. Now, the two sides have come to a happy agreement.

Several insiders confirmed to MLB.com today that the 67-year-old Murphy has accepted a three-year contract from 2026 to 2028, which includes a team option for 2029. The agreement was first reported by The Athletic, though the team has yet to officially announce it.

“I’m truly grateful to have a locker room,” Murphy said today in a text to MLB.com. “Being part of the Brewers organization over the past decade has been an incredible journey. Continuing in this role is an honor.”

If the team exercises the option, the Syracuse, New York native will coach through age 70, which seems to be his prime period as one of today’s most unique and charismatic managers. Since taking over from Craig Counsell, who left for the Cubs after the 2023 season, Murphy has led the Brewers to back-to-back division titles in his first two years. Prior to that, Murphy served as Counsell’s bench coach in Milwaukee from 2016 to 2023. Even earlier, Murphy was Counsell’s college coach at Notre Dame, part of a long and distinguished collegiate coaching career during which he amassed 1,000 wins across four schools.

Questions about how his coaching style would translate to the majors were answered in 2024. After trading Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, the Brewers did not decline as many expected; instead, they improved from Counsell’s final season win total of 92 to 93 under Murphy. Murphy also became the first Milwaukee manager to win the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Manager of the Year award, which dates back to 1983.

The 2025 season was even more successful. After trading All-Star closer Devin Williams to the Yankees, the Brewers were again predicted to regress. However, Murphy’s team led the majors with 97 wins, setting a franchise record and capturing their third consecutive division title. Until the last week of May, their winning percentage was below .500, but then they went on an eight-game winning streak spanning late May to early June, followed by an 11-game streak in July and a franchise-best 14-game streak in August, vaulting them to first place. Alongside the 1982 Brewers, they became one of only two teams in franchise history to lead the majors in regular season wins.

Subsequently, the Brewers ended their streak of six consecutive postseason series losses by defeating the Cubs, managed by Counsell, in a five-game National League Division Series. They then fell to the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

Murphy is quick to credit his players, coaches, and front office colleagues—whom he calls the “Ivory Tower.” Yet, he undeniably plays a key role in the Brewers’ sustained success. He is both grounded and straightforward, offering praise and constructive criticism openly, and is known for pulling baked goods out of his hoodie pocket. Under his leadership, the team ranked third in runs scored and second in earned run average in the majors, while using 17 starting pitchers—tying a franchise record.

“Everyone loves Murphy, no doubt about that,” Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said earlier this week. “But we don’t talk contracts. We do talk about stability. We’ve had a lot of stability here, and that’s the goal.”