Vinny Curry

Vinny Curry's Biography

Vincent Curry, born on June 30, 1988, is an accomplished American former professional football player whose prowess in the National Football League (NFL) as a defensive end cannot be overstated. His journey to football fame was planted solidly during his time playing college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd in 2012. His exceptional skill and hard work soon paid off when the Philadelphia Eagles recognized his talent and selected him in the second round of the NFL draft that year. It was with the Eagles that Curry achieved one of the highest points of his pro football career, winning Super Bowl LII.

Although he donned the Eagles shirt with pride and commendable performance, the decision to wear number 75 held deep sentimental value to him. The number represented his respect and homage to the 75 souls lost tragically in the Southern Airways Flight 932 crash in 1970, a disaster that involved a Marshall charter flight.

Throughout his college football career, Vincent Curry continually distinguished himself as a player of note. His breakout season came as a junior in 2010 when he achieved a career-high 12 sacks. Continuing in stride, as a senior in 2011, he secured 74 tackles, 11 sacks, and 6 forced fumbles. These impressive performance stats made him prominent on the national level, with his 11 sacks ranking as the sixth most nationwide. Additionally, his 6 forced fumbles came in as the second highest in the country during that football season.

The professional football world recognized his dedication and prowess, and in the 2012 NFL draft, Curry was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round as the 59th overall pick. This occurrence marked him as the highest drafted player from Marshall since Darius Watts in 2004. May 9, 2012, his contract with the Eagles marked the beginning of his NFL career, a challenging prospect for any newbie. Despite the year being relatively uneventful, he showed promise by playing in six games, finishing with 9 combined tackles.

Over the years, Curry’s role in the Philadelphia Eagles amplified, especially in his second year when he accomplished 17 tackles, 5 assists, 4 sacks, and 2 pass deflections. His remarkable breakout season was in 2014 when he played all 16 games, acquiring 9 sacks, the second-highest in the team, and led in forced fumbles with 4.

While not every season was sunlit, such as the 2015 season where he struggled as an outside linebacker, Curry remained a valued part of the Eagles. Even in the face of possible free agency, his key role in the transition back into a 4-3 defense, as well as the arrival of new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, ensured his stay in Philadelphia. This was cemented on February 2, 2016, when he signed a lucrative five-year, $47.5 million contract extension with the Eagles, having $23 million guaranteed. That same season saw the Eagles emerge victorious over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, with Curry contributing four tackles to the win.

But the rollercoaster that is professional football saw him leave the Eagles two years into his contract after refusing a pay cut. In March 2018, he signed a three-year, $23 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, only to be released after one season. His bond with the Eagles drew him back for the 2019 season on a one-year deal. After a series of unfortunate events, including being placed on injured reserve, designated to return, and finally placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Curry finally signed with the New York Jets on March 24, 2021.

Sadly, a severe medical condition curtailed his hopes of an exceptional football season during the same year. He was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder that necessitated the removal of his spleen and led to the formation of blood clots that required him to go on blood thinners. This development forced him to sit out the 2021 NFL season. He was subsequently released on January 7, 2022.

Hope was rekindled when he re-signed with the Jets on April 20, 2022, only to be placed on the injured list on September 1, 2022. However, Curry was not one to remain sidetracked for long. He was activated on October 15, 2022, as his journey in football continues to evolve.