CURLEY CULP

Curley Culp
6'2" 265
Defensive Tackle
Kansas City Chiefs
1968 - 1981
14 Seasons
179 Games Played
13 Fumbles Recovered
1 Touchdown
6 Pro Bowls


Curley Culp was drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 1968. He was the 31st player picked overall. Culp attended college at Arizona State University, where he was at first an offensive lineman before moving over to the defensive side of the line.

By his senior year, Culp was named First-Team All-American by both Time Magazine and the Sporting News in football. Culp was also the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion in 1967. Culp was also named to the 1968 U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

Culp is a Charter Inductee of the ASU Sports Hall of Fame, which was created in 1975, and was named the Greatest Athlete in the History of Arizona during the state's centennial celebration in 2006.


He was was traded to Kansas City after the 1968 draft for a fourth round pick in 1969 draft. That pick turned out to be offensive guard Mike Schnitker from Colorado who played with the Broncos from 1969-1974.

Culp found his way into nine games during his rookie year but broke out in his second year in the AFL. He was named to his first Pro Bowl team and helped the Chiefs get to Super Bowl IV.

It was in that game the 3-4 defense was born. Hall of Fame Head Coach Hank Stram decided to put Culp right over Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff. Culp's immense strength and quickness overwhelmed Tingelhoff to the point where Culp began to command double, sometimes triple teams.

This freed Hall of Famers like Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, and Pro Bowl strong safety Johnny Robinson to make plays as the Chiefs shut down the Vikings and won 23-7.

Culp would go on to play the 1971 Pro Bowl. He was twice honored as the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Week during his tenure in Kansas City and led the 1973 Chiefs in sacks with nine.

He would play in Kansas City until the beginning of 1974. Culp had signed on to play in the World Football League for 1975, so he was traded four games into the season to the Houston Oilers in one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history.

The Oilers acquired Kansas City's 1975 first-round selection, which turned out to be linebacker Robert Brazile, along with Culp for defensive end John Matuszak. Culp was the ingredient Houston needed to excel in the Oilers 3-4 defense.

He was named to the 1975 Pro Bowl and was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Culp also received the George S. Halas Trophy after accumulating 11.5 sacks, an unheard of statistic for a nose tackle.

Teamed with Hall of Fame defensive end Elvin Bethea and great linebackers like Brazile, Ted Washington Sr., and Gregg Bingham, Culp helped lead some excellent Oilers teams that went to a AFC Championship game.

In 1975, Culp recovered a career high three fumbles and took one 38 yards for the only touchdown of his NFL career. In 1977, he snared the only interception of his career and rumbled 25 yards.

Culp was named to Pro Bowls from 1975 to 1978 while in Houston. In 1979, Culp was named Second-Team All-Conference by both the UPI and Associated Press. By 1980, he was battling injuries and started just five of 10 games in Houston.

The Oilers released him and he was claimed by the Deroit Lions. He finished that year in Detroit, starting in two threes. Culp tried to play in 1981, but ended up playing just twomes before retiring.

Culp was named by the Sporting News to the All-Century teams of both the Kansas City and Houston/Tennessee franchises. He was voted by a panel of former NFL players and coaches to Pro Football Weekly's All-Time 3-4 defensive team.

He wasted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. The Tennessee Titans are said to be working on creating their own team Hall of Fame and Culp will certainly be inducted into it one day as well.

Trying to summarize Culp's career may be best said by his comrades. Chiefs Hall of Fame Center Jack Rudnay said, "Every center in the league should have to go against Curley in order to know what it’s like to go against the very best.”

Hall of Fame Center Jim Otto claimed, "Curley Culp was perhaps the strongest man I ever lined up against."

Culp was once reported to have broken the helmets of three teammates during a scrimmage at Arizona State University. He had tremendous leverage to go with his massive strength and superior quickness.

There was a time some thought he benefited from lining next to Buchanan, but he showed in Houston that he was an unstoppable force still. Often facing multiple blockers each snap of the ball, Culp used his wrestling knowledge to sift through the opponents on his way to the ball.

I find it amazing Culp hasn't been inducted. He was the key person who popularized the 3-4 with his intelligence and abilities.

Oilers Head Coach Bum Phillips said, "Curley made the 3-4 defense work. He made me look smart."

Well, the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters certainly look anything but smart. You see politics involved too much in the Canton voting process. I've been told by certain voters that they are disgusted with this process themselves.

It is as if some voters don't want too many players from one team. Look how long it took for Chief Emmitt Thomas to get inducted, and how Chiefs legend Johnny Robinson somehow hasn't been yet.

Culp did excel with two teams, so whatever the hold up is by the voters is unacceptable. Curley Culp should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by now!


Notable Players Drafted In 1968 (* Denotes Canton Inductee)

1. Ron Yary, OT, Minnesota *
2. Bob Johnson, C, Cincinnati
3. Claude Humphrey, DE, Atlanta
4. Russ Washington, DT/ OT, San Diego
8. Larry Csonka, FB, Miami *
9. Haven Moses, WR, Buffalo
11. Greg Landry, QB, Detroit
13. MacArthur Lane, RB, St. Louis Cardinals
14. Tim Rossovich, LB, Philadelphia
15. Forrest Blue, C, San Francisco
23. John Williams, OT, Baltimore Colts
26. Bill Lueck, G, Green Bay
33. Charlie West, DB, Minnesota
42. Bob Atkins, DB, St. Louis
43. Bill Lenkaitus, C, SanDiego
47. John Garlington, LB, Cleveland
48. Mike Livingston, QB, Kansas City
52. Ken Stabler, QB, Oakland
69. Skip Vanderbundt, LB, San Francisco
73. Dick Anderson, DB, Miami
74. Charlie Sanders, TE, Detroit *
77. Elvin Bethea, DE, Houston Oilers *
80. Art Shell, OT, Oakland *
81. Dick Himes, OT, Green Bay
82. Paul Robinson, RB, Cincinnati
84. Jess Phillips, RB, Cincinnati
98. Johnny Fuller, DB, San Francisco
105. Jim Beirne, WR, Houston
110. Charlie H. Smith, RB, Oakland
117. Mike Bragg, P, Washington
118. Jim Kiick, RB, Miami
124. Mark Nordquist, G, Philadelphia
127. Cecil Turner, WR, Chicago
130. Blaine Nye, G, Dallas
156. Essex Johnson, RB, Cincinnati
159. D.D. Lewis, LB, Dallas
167. Oscar Reed, RB, Minnesota
176. Bob Brunet, RB, Washington
181. Willie Holman, DE, Chicago
190. George Atkinson, DB, Oakland
222. Paul Smith, DT, Denver
249. John Outlaw, DB, Boston Patriots
261. Tommy Hart, DE, San Francisco
275. Greg Brezina, LB, Atlanta
277. Marv Hubbard, RB, Oakland
288. Henry Davis, LB, NY Giants
289. Rich Coady, C, Chicago
291. Dennis Partee, K, San Diego
297. John Pergine, LB, LA Rams
301. Bob Trumpy, TE, Cincinnati
305. Jim Cheyunski, LB, Boston
317. Jeff Queen, RB, San Diego
323. Harold Jackson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
330. Charlie Greer, DB, Denver
351. Dean Halverson, LB, LA Rams
357. Marlin Briscoe, WR, Denver
375. Robert Holmes, RB, Kansas City
417. Rocky Bleier, RB, Pittsburgh
428. Larry Cole, DE, Dallas
441. Bob Lee, QB, Minnesota

JERRY SMITH

Jerry Smith

6'3" 208

Tight End

Washington Redskins

1965- 1977

13 Seasons

168 Games Played

421 Receptions

5,496 Yards Receiving

60 Touchdowns

2 Pro Bowls

Gerald "Jerry" Smith was a 9th round draft choice of the Redskins in 1965. He was the 118th player picked overall. The AFL's Kansas City Chiefs also drafted him in the 18th round, 141st overall in the AFL draft that year. Jerry went to Arizona State for college. He didn't play varsity football until his junior year. That year he caught 9 passes for 2 touchdowns. He came into his own in his senior year, when he snagged 42 catches for 618 yards and 5 touchdowns. He is a member of the ASU All Time roster, as is Redskin Hall of Fame WR Charley Taylor.

Jerry wasn't used much in his rookie year. He caught 19 passes for 2 touchdowns that year. Charley Taylor, then a half back, was the primary weapon (Taylor was an All Pro from '64 - '67 who was in the NFL Top 10 in rushing TD's and receptions until an injury forced him to WR. Taylor is among the league’s all time top 50 in receptions, receiving yards, yards from scrimmage, and rushing and receiving touchdowns). Jerry was a back up WR initially, but with 2 Hall of Famers (Taylor and Bobby Mitchell) as the primary targets of the newly acquired Hall of Fame QB Sonny Jurgensen, head coach and Hall of Famer Otto Graham decided to move Smith to tight end. Jerry was used much like you now have seen Sterling Sharpe or Antonio Gates used. This was a trend setting move that allowed Smith to explode onto the NFL scene. In his 2nd season, Smith caught 54 balls for 686 yards and 6 TD's. In his 3rd season, Smith had his best season as a pro. He caught 67 passes for 849 yards and 12 TD's. Smith then caught 45, 54, and 43 passes the next 3 years to go with 24 TD's. Smith was hurt early in 1971 and only managed 16 catches with 1 TD. He was never quite the same again. In the Redskins Super Bowl year of '72, Smith did catch 7 TD's on only 21 receptions. The following year he did not get into the end zone on 19 catches. Finally showing signs of health in 1974, Smith caught 44 passes for 554 yards with 3 TD's from Billy Kilmer (who never threw to the TE much). The next year Smith caught 31 balls for 391 yards and 3 TD's. Injuries besieged Smiths final 2 years, and with newly acquired Jean Fugett now starting, Smith managed 8 catches for 2 TD's. Smith retired with a then NFL record 60 touch down catches for tight ends. He finished 2nd All Time behind Mike Ditka for receptions and yards receiving. To this day, he ranks tops in Washington Redskin history for tight ends in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns. He is also tied with 3 others with 12 TD's caught in a season, and tied with 10 others with 3 TD's in one game (something he did twice). His team record 67 catches (in 14 games) for a tight end in a single season was surpassed by Chris Cooley (in 16 games) in 2005. Smith still ranks 3rd in Redskin history in TD catches, and 4th in receptions.

While Smiths statistics may pale in today's modern game, one must remember that the NFL "chuck" rule was 10 yards in his playing days. It was a much rougher game as well back then. Clotheslines were frequent, as were players diving at each others knees. If Smith had the luxury of only a 5 yard chuck rule, the statistics surely would have increased. Smith may never be inducted into Canton. He died at the age of 43 in 1986 of AIDS. He never had told anyone that he was a homosexual, but was outed by former team mate and lover, running back David Kopay (the first NFL player to announce his being gay) shortly after Smiths death. Kopay has asserted the NFL's homophobia in those days was so prevalent, that once he had announced he was gay, several coaching offers were rescinded. Not that much has changed nowadays, as Jeremy Shockeys comments on the Howard Stern show reveal, but there is a hope that the NFL Senior Committee can look past the mans lifestyle and the politics involved. Smith retired with superior stats comparatively to Hall of Fame tight ends such as John Mackey. He retired only 6 catches short of Ditka's NFL record as well.

Jerry Smith may be a controversial subject to some. Even after everything that can be said for, or against him, his statistics tell a steadfast story. Smith was lauded by Sports Illustrated as a top pass catching tight end during his era. His legend on the gridiron still shines bright today, 31 years after his retirement. Maybe some will say he is on the fringe for induction, or that I'm being biased due to the Redskins being my favorite team as well. Maybe these things are true. Still, in my eyes, Jerry Smith belongs in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Notable players drafted in 1965 ( * denotes Hall of Famer):

2. Ken Willard, RB, 49ERS

3. Dick Butkus, LB, Chicago *

4. Gale Sayers, RB, Chicago *

5. Craig Morton, QB, Dallas

12. Joe Namath, QB, St. Louis *

14. Mike Curtis, LB, Baltimore

45. Jim Nance, RB, Chicago

54. Johnny Roland, RB, St. Louis

89. Brig Owens, QB, Dallas

145. Jethro Pugh, DT, Dallas

203. Otis Taylor, WR, Philadelphia

245. Chris Hanburger, LB, Washington