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Curley Culp
Position: DT-NT-G Height: 6-2 Weight: 265 lbs. Born: March 10, 1946 in Yuma, AZ High School: Yuma College: Arizona St. Drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 2nd round (31st overall) of the 1968 NFL Draft Weited Career AV (100-95) 77 (400th overall since 1950) 6-time Pro Bowler & 1-time First-Team All-Pro Inducted into Hall of Fame in 2013 |
When Culp got to Houston, Bum Phillips was the defensive coordinator for Sid Gillman at the time. He had convinced the head coach to try a 3-4 defense, employing three down linemen and four linebackers, eschewing the standard4-3 fronts of the day. The Oilers acquired Culp midway through the 1974 season for troubled DT John Matuszak. Culp had signed to play in the rival World Football league for 1975, so the Chiefs thought they were unloading a problem of their own. Culp outlived the new league and then some. It turned out to be one of the best trades in Oiler history.
Culp was so strong he required two and three players to block him, opening lanes for Elvin Bethea, Gregg Bingham, and Ted Washington Sr. (and soon Robert Brazile, the player Houston drafted with the first-round pick that came with Culp). Houston won seven of their remaining nine games after Curley came to Houston. As Phillips later said, "Curley made (the 3-4 defense) work. He made me look smart."
Culp's finest season came in 1975. He notched 11½ sacks, an
unheard of total for a defensive tackle. 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 S. Hallas Trophy.
The nose tackle position would become notorious for shortening careers. As linemen attacked Curley from every angle, injuries and age began to take their 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 Sporting News named Culp to the All-Century teams of both the Kansas City and Houston/Tennessee franchises. Or more to the point, as voiced by Hall-Of-Famer center, Jim Otto of the Raiders, "Curley Culp was perhaps the strongest man I ever lined up against."
Houston Highlight: In a September 1975 game against the San Diego Chargers, Culp scooped up a Charger fumble and rumbled 38 yards. Even though teammate Elvin Bethea yelled that Curley was going the wrong way, he managed to find the correct end zone for the only points of his NFL career.
The score helped Houston beat San Diego, 33-17, and secured the Oilers' first 2-0 start since 1966. Houston finished the 1975 season with a 10-4 record.