James Michael Curtis (March 27, 1943 – April 20, 2020) was an American professional football player for the Baltimore Colts, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins, who played 14 seasons from 1965 to 1978 in the National Football League (NFL). He was a four-time Pro Bowler in 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1974. Although sacks were not official during the time he played, Curtis was a good blitzer, recording 22 sacks, including one in which a famous photograph was taken of Curtis tackling Roman Gabriel's head. Curtis also picked off 25 passes and was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970 by a panel of 101 sportswriters.
Curtis was drafted as a fullback in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Colts, but later switched to linebacker on the weak side (away from the tight end). He was a team captain for most of his Baltimore career. In 1970, he had five interceptions and that same season made a key pickoff that set up the game-winning field goal in the Colts' Super Bowl V win over the Dallas Cowboys with just 59 seconds left in the game.[1] He and Ted Hendricks, member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, formed a potent tandem at the linebacker position from 1969 to 1973, after which Hendricks was traded. Curtis was named the Colts' Most Valuable Player in 1974.
Curtis' 1975 season was cut short on November 12 when he opted for surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee which he had injured in a preseason game in early September.[2] Despite the objections of head coach Ted Marchibroda,[3] Curtis was left unprotected for the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft due to a personality conflict with general manager Joe Thomas. "I heard indirectly that I was in the expansion draft because Joe Thomas hated my guts," he said. "Thomas could have had a first-round draft choice or better for me if he had wanted it."[4]
Curtis was selected by the Seattle Seahawks on March 30, 1976.[5] He started all 14 regular-season games during the Seahawks' inaugural campaign and was one of the team's cocaptains. After being supplanted by Ken Geddes on the depth chart prior to the start of the 1977 season, he was waived by the Seahawks on September 6. He signed with the Washington Redskins three days later on September 9.[6] He started 11 games in place of the injured Chris Hanburger in 1977, but only two of the 13 contests in which he played the following year. His intention to retire after the 1979 season was expedited before the campaign began when he was released by the Redskins on August 7.[7]
Writingedit
In 1972 Curtis wrote one book about his career, titled Keep Off My Turf, in which he states that the New York Jets, who upset the Colts in Super Bowl III, "were lucky that day," and that the 1968 Colts were "twice as good as the Jets."
In 2017 Curtis wrote the foreword for The First 50 Super Bowls: How Football's Championships Were Won by author Ed Benkin.
Personal lifeedit
Curtis had three children, Clay, Ryan and Caitlin. As of 2019, he had seven grandchildren. Curtis died on April 20, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Florida.[8][9] He died from complications from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries.[10][11]
Referencesedit
^Anderson, Dave. "Interception by Curtis Turning Point: Colts," The New York Times, Monday, January 18, 1971. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
^McGowen, Deane. "People in Sports," The New York Times, Thursday, November 13, 1975.. Retrieved December 9, 2018
^"Winning didn't cure all the ills in Baltimore," The Associated Press, Saturday, January 22, 1977.. Retrieved January 31, 2014
^"Feathering A Nest Of Seahawks," Sports Illustrated, May 24, 1976.. Retrieved December 9, 2018
^"N.F.L. Veterans Drafted," The New York Times, Wednesday, March 31, 1976. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
^Shapiro, Leonard. "Redskins Put Curtis On Roster," The Washington Post, Saturday, September 10, 1977.. Retrieved December 9, 2018
^"Mike Curtis, 36, Cut by Redskins," The Associated Press, Tuesday, August 7, 1979.. Retrieved December 9, 2018
^"Former Colts great Mike Curtis dies at 77". www.msn.com. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
^"Mike Curtis, first defensive captain for Seattle Seahawks, dies at age 77". The Seattle Times. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
^"Mike Curtis, fierce linebacker for Colts, dies at 77 - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
^"Mike Curtis, hard-hitting linebacker for Baltimore Colts, dies at 77 - The Washington Post". The Washington Post.
External linksedit
Official website
Gallery of Mike Curtis football cards
December 02, 2023
mike, curtis, american, football, james, michael, curtis, march, 1943, april, 2020, american, professional, football, player, baltimore, colts, seattle, seahawks, washington, redskins, played, seasons, from, 1965, 1978, national, football, league, four, time, . James Michael Curtis March 27 1943 April 20 2020 was an American professional football player for the Baltimore Colts the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Redskins who played 14 seasons from 1965 to 1978 in the National Football League NFL He was a four time Pro Bowler in 1968 1970 1971 and 1974 Although sacks were not official during the time he played Curtis was a good blitzer recording 22 sacks including one in which a famous photograph was taken of Curtis tackling Roman Gabriel s head Curtis also picked off 25 passes and was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970 by a panel of 101 sportswriters Mike CurtisNo 32Position LinebackerPersonal informationBorn 1943 03 27 March 27 1943Rockville Maryland U S Died April 20 2020 2020 04 20 aged 77 St Petersburg Florida U S Height 6 ft 3 in 1 91 m Weight 232 lb 105 kg Career informationHigh school Richard Montgomery Rockville Maryland College DukeNFL Draft 1965 Round 1 Pick 14AFL Draft 1965 Round 3 Pick 21Career historyBaltimore Colts 1965 1975 Seattle Seahawks 1976 Washington Redskins 1977 1978 Career highlights and awardsSuper Bowl champion V NFL champion 1968 2 First team All Pro 1968 1969 4 Pro Bowl 1968 1970 1971 1974 First team All American 1964 Career NFL statisticsGames played 166Interceptions 25Touchdowns 2Player stats at PFR Contents 1 Early career 2 Career 2 1 Writing 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly career editCurtis went to Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville Maryland and was a 195 pound fullback as a junior in 1959 He played college football at Duke University where he was a two time All Atlantic Coast Conference selection as well Academic All American At Duke Mike was a member of Phi Delt fraternity Career editCurtis was drafted as a fullback in the first round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Colts but later switched to linebacker on the weak side away from the tight end He was a team captain for most of his Baltimore career In 1970 he had five interceptions and that same season made a key pickoff that set up the game winning field goal in the Colts Super Bowl V win over the Dallas Cowboys with just 59 seconds left in the game 1 He and Ted Hendricks member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame formed a potent tandem at the linebacker position from 1969 to 1973 after which Hendricks was traded Curtis was named the Colts Most Valuable Player in 1974 Curtis 1975 season was cut short on November 12 when he opted for surgery to repair cartilage in his left knee which he had injured in a preseason game in early September 2 Despite the objections of head coach Ted Marchibroda 3 Curtis was left unprotected for the 1976 NFL Expansion Draft due to a personality conflict with general manager Joe Thomas I heard indirectly that I was in the expansion draft because Joe Thomas hated my guts he said Thomas could have had a first round draft choice or better for me if he had wanted it 4 Curtis was selected by the Seattle Seahawks on March 30 1976 5 He started all 14 regular season games during the Seahawks inaugural campaign and was one of the team s cocaptains After being supplanted by Ken Geddes on the depth chart prior to the start of the 1977 season he was waived by the Seahawks on September 6 He signed with the Washington Redskins three days later on September 9 6 He started 11 games in place of the injured Chris Hanburger in 1977 but only two of the 13 contests in which he played the following year His intention to retire after the 1979 season was expedited before the campaign began when he was released by the Redskins on August 7 7 Writing edit In 1972 Curtis wrote one book about his career titled Keep Off My Turf in which he states that the New York Jets who upset the Colts in Super Bowl III were lucky that day and that the 1968 Colts were twice as good as the Jets In 2017 Curtis wrote the foreword for The First 50 Super Bowls How Football s Championships Were Won by author Ed Benkin Personal life editCurtis had three children Clay Ryan and Caitlin As of 2019 he had seven grandchildren Curtis died on April 20 2020 in St Petersburg Florida 8 9 He died from complications from chronic traumatic encephalopathy CTE a neurodegenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries 10 11 References edit Anderson Dave Interception by Curtis Turning Point Colts The New York Times Monday January 18 1971 Retrieved September 19 2023 McGowen Deane People in Sports The New York Times Thursday November 13 1975 Retrieved December 9 2018 Winning didn t cure all the ills in Baltimore The Associated Press Saturday January 22 1977 Retrieved January 31 2014 Feathering A Nest Of Seahawks Sports Illustrated May 24 1976 Retrieved December 9 2018 N F L Veterans Drafted The New York Times Wednesday March 31 1976 Retrieved April 7 2023 Shapiro Leonard Redskins Put Curtis On Roster The Washington Post Saturday September 10 1977 Retrieved December 9 2018 Mike Curtis 36 Cut by Redskins The Associated Press Tuesday August 7 1979 Retrieved December 9 2018 Former Colts great Mike Curtis dies at 77 www msn com Retrieved April 20 2020 Mike Curtis first defensive captain for Seattle Seahawks dies at age 77 The Seattle Times April 20 2020 Retrieved April 20 2020 Mike Curtis fierce linebacker for Colts dies at 77 the Boston Globe The Boston Globe Mike Curtis hard hitting linebacker for Baltimore Colts dies at 77 The Washington Post The Washington Post External links editOfficial website Gallery of Mike Curtis football cards Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mike Curtis American football amp oldid 1176179501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
