Curley Culp

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Lore & Background

Curley Culp grew up in Yuma, Arizona, the youngest of 13 children including a twin sister, Shirley. At Yuma Union High School, he was a standout first in football and then in wrestling, winning Arizona high school wrestling state titles at heavyweight in 1963 and 1964. He was recruited to Arizona State University to play both sports. At Arizona State, Culp amassed a 84–11–1 record, three Western Athletic Conference championships, and was the 1967 NCAA heavyweight champion, winning the Gorriaran Award for scoring the most pins at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. 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. The Denver Broncos drafted Culp in the second round of the 1968 NFL Draft, but considered him too small for the defensive line at 6'1" and 265 lbs. After trying him at guard, they dealt him during training camp to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick (Mike Schnitker). He played for Kansas City for seven seasons, appearing in 82 games, achieving nine sacks in 1973 with nine QB takedowns, and also recovering five fumbles during his career with the team. Culp's role as a nose tackle in the pros actually took root in Super Bowl IV, where he was a starting defensive tackle. Chiefs coach Hank Stram, in an attempt to nullify the Minnesota Vikings' quick outside rushing attack, decided to line Culp directly nose-to-nose with Vikings center, Mick Tingelhoff. The smaller Tingelhoff could not block Culp one-on-one and had to be helped by the other linemen. This freed teammates Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, and other Chiefs defenders to get into the Vikings offensive backfield and shut down their running game. The effectiveness of the Chiefs' defensive game plan helped continue the growing popularity of the 3–4 scheme in the 1970s from the college to pro ranks. When Culp arrived in Houston, Bum Phillips was the defensive coordinator for Sid Gillman. He 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. In basically an exchange of defensive tackles who had threatened to jump to the World Football League, the Oilers acquired Culp and a first-round draft

In Their Own Story

The trade that sent Culp to Houston remains one of the most lopsided in NFL history. On October 22, 1974, both Culp and John Matuszak had signed contracts with World Football League teams (the Southern California Sun and Shreveport Steamer, respectively). The Oilers acquired Culp and a first-round draft choice from the Chiefs for Matuszak. This deal was made worse for Kansas City when Houston used that pick to select Robert Brazile. Upon arriving in Houston, defensive coordinator Bum Phillips employed a 3–4 defense specifically built around Culp's strength. He required two or three players to block him on almost every play, opening lanes for Elvin Bethea, Gregg Bingham, Ted Washington, Sr., and later Brazile. The strategy worked immediately; Houston won seven of their remaining nine games after Culp arrived. As Phillips later said, "Curley made (the 3–4 defense) work. He made me look smart."

Reader's Guide

Curley Culp was a defensive tackle and nose tackle known for his strength and role in popularizing the 3–4 defense. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs (1968–1974), Houston Oilers (1974–1980), and Detroit Lions (1980–1981). He was a six-time Pro Bowler and an AFL All-Star in 1969. He was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1975 by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2013) and the Chiefs Hall of Fame (2008).

Did You Know?

• Curley Culp was also an NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion at Arizona State University in 1967.
• He was traded from the Denver Broncos to the Kansas City Chiefs during training camp in 1968 for a fourth-round draft pick.
• Culp's alignment directly over the center in Super Bowl IV helped popularize the 3–4 defense in the NFL.
• He was named the Greatest Athlete in the history of Arizona during the state's centennial in 2006.

Dual-Sport Dominance in College

Culp grew up in Yuma, Arizona, as the youngest of 13 children, including a twin sister named Shirley. At Yuma Union High School, he was a standout first in football and then wrestling, winning Arizona high school state titles at heavyweight in 1963 and 1964. Recruited to Arizona State University by legendary coach Frank Kush, Culp excelled in both sports simultaneously. In football, he played nose guard on the 1967 team that allowed opponents an average of only 79.8 yards per game, earning All-America honors. On the mat, he amassed a record of 84–11–1, won three Western Athletic Conference championships, and captured the 1967 NCAA heavyweight championship title. He also won the Gorriaran Award for scoring the most pins at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The Architect of the Nose Tackle Role

The Broncos initially considered Culp too small for their defensive line after drafting him in the second round of the 1968 NFL Draft, even attempting to move him to guard before trading him. It was his performance as a nose tackle that defined his legacy, particularly in Super Bowl IV where he neutralized Mick Tingelhoff through sheer strength and positioning. This forced the Vikings to double-team him, which opened up the field for the rest of the Chiefs' defense. While with Kansas City, he achieved nine sacks in 1973 and recovered five fumbles during his seven-season tenure. His ability to occupy multiple blockers allowed linebackers like Willie Lanier and Buck Buchanan to make plays that defined the era's defensive success.

A Lopsided Trade and Houston Success

The October 22, 1974 trade sent Culp to the Houston Oilers in exchange for John Matuszak and a first-round draft choice. Both players had previously signed with World Football League teams, but the deal became infamous when Houston used the pick to select Robert Brazile. In Houston, under Bum Phillips' 3–4 defense, Culp's strength was fully utilized; he often required two or three blockers, creating massive openings for teammates like Elvin Bethea and Gregg Bingham. The team's performance surged, winning seven of their remaining nine games after his arrival. His dominance was such that he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association in 1975, receiving the George Halas Trophy.

Enduring Legacy and Hall of Fame Honor

Culp played a total of 13 seasons in the AFL/NFL before closing out his career with the Detroit Lions after being claimed midway through the 1980 season. He was an AFL All-Star in 1969 and selected to six Pro Bowls throughout his career. In 1975, he won All-Pro honors and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. He also received the George Halas Trophy that year. His accolades include being twice honored as the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Week. Culp is a member of the Kansas City Chiefs 25-Year All-Time Team, inducted into the Chiefs Hall of Fame in March 2008, and named to the All-Century teams of both the Kansas City and Houston/Tennessee franchises. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 3, 2013.