Curley Culp
1968 / Round: 2 / Pick: 31 | |||||
Career history | |||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||
Medal record | ||
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Collegiate Wrestling | ||
Representing the Arizona State Sun Devils | ||
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships | ||
1967 Kent | Heavyweight |
Curley Culp (March 10, 1946 – November 27, 2021) was an
.Early life and education
Curley Culp grew up in
Collegiate career
Wrestling
At Arizona State, Culp amassed a 84–11–1 record, three
Football
Under legendary Arizona State football coach Frank Kush, Culp played nose guard, including on the 1967 team that allowed opponents an average of only 79.8 yards per game. He won All-America honors in football, as well as wrestling.[1]
Professional career
Kansas City Chiefs
The
Culp's role as a nose tackle in the pros actually took root in
Houston Oilers
When Culp arrived in Houston,
Culp was so strong he required two and three players to
Playing as a nose tackle, Culp suffered injuries, and age began to take its toll. Midway through the 1980 season, Culp was released and was claimed by Detroit, where he stayed an additional season before closing out his 14-year NFL career.
So great was his impact that the
Legacy
Culp is regarded as the NFL's greatest nose tackle.[6] He played a total of 13 seasons in the AFL/NFL, and was selected to a total of six AFL All-Star Games or Pro Bowls. He was twice honored as the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Week.[4] In 1975, he won All-Pro honors and was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association and as such received the George Halas Trophy.[9]
He was inducted into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame at its inception in 1975, and was named Greatest Athlete in the history of Arizona during the state's centennial in 2006.[3]
Culp is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs 25-Year All-Time Team,[4] and in March 2008 was inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame.[1]
On August 3, 2013, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[1][4][10]
Death
Culp announced on November 16, 2021, that he had been diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer.[11] He died eleven days later at the age of 75.[12]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Randy Covitz, "Former Chiefs great Curley Culp muscles his way into the Hall of Fame", Kansas City Star, August 2, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2021. (archived on March 28, 2019.)
- ^ "37th NCAA Wrestling Tournament" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 14, 2012.
- ^ a b c J.W. Nix, "Crazy Canton Cuts = Curley Culp", Bleacher Reports, May 2, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "One-on-One with Chiefs Hall of Famer Curley Culp", Kansas City Chiefs, August 3, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ "Packers Get Hadl", The New York Times, October 23, 1974. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
- ^ a b John McClain, "Oilers Hall of Famer Curley Culp says he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer", Houston Chronicle, November 16, 2021. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Cwik, Chris (November 27, 2021). "Chiefs, Oilers tackle and NFL Hall of Famer Curley Culp dead at 75". sports.yahoo.com. Verizon Media, LLC. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Nix, JW. "Crazy Canton Cuts = Curley Culp". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Daniels, Tim. "NFL Hall of Fame DL Curley Culp Dies At Age 75". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report, Inc. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony", USA Today, August 3, 2013. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ David Medina, "Former Chiefs DT Curley Culp announces he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer ", KSHB TV, November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 16, 2021.
- ^ Dave Skretta, "Hall of Fame defensive lineman Curley Culp dies at 75", Associated Press, November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
External links
- Curley Culp, Pro Football Hall of Fame