Curley Culp

Career: Curley Culp was the first of a new breed of defensive tackle that anchored the 3-4 defenses of the 1970s and 1980s. Billed as a “nose tackle,” “nose guard” or “middle guard,” his job was simple: line up across from the center and clog the middle on running plays while supporting the pass rush on passing downs. Sounds like the perfect job description for a two-sport star from Arizona State where Culp won the NCAA heavyweight wrestling title in addition to being named to several football All-America teams.

At 6’1" and 265lbs, Culp was considered a bit too short for the defensive line and a bit too slow to play linebacker. He moved from Denver to Kansas City in search of a team that could properly utilize his unique talents. Enter Houston and a brand new approach to defense.

Bum Phillips was the defensive coordinator for Sid Gillman at the time and had convinced the head coach to try a 3-4 defense, employing three down linemen and four linebackers, eschewing the standard 4-3 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 was 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 (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 11.5 sacks, an unheard of total for a defensive tackle. He won All-Pro honors and was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

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 claimed by Detroit, where he stayed an additional season, 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, and former teammate, Jim Otto, “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 right 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. The team would finish the 1975 season 10-4.

by Bob Hulsey
HoustonProFootball.com

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