Pro Football Hall of Famer Curley Culp Dies at 75

Sports

By Kelton Brooks Published: November 29, 2021

Pro Football Hall of Famer Curley Culp Dies at 75

Enshrinee Curley Culp is introduced during the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

In Summary

Culp, the dominating defensive tackle, had been battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. He passed away at the age of 75.

Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Curley Culp passed away Saturday at the age of 75.

Culp’s wife, Collette Bloom Culp, announced the passing of her husband on social media, and it was revealed weeks ago Curley had been battling Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

To my followers, family and friends I have stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Do donate to your local cancer organizations so this dreaded disease is eradicated. Love life, family and friends. 🙏 pray to God for all physical and spiritual healing. Love, Curley Culp HOF#13.
— Curley Culp (@CurleyCulp) November 16, 2021

On behalf of our family and with a broken heart, I announce the passing of my husband, Curley Culp early this morning. We respectfully ask for privacy at this time.
Collette Bloom Culp
This account is now closed.
— Curley Culp (@CurleyCulp) November 27, 2021

Curley Culp spent 14 years in the NFL and was elected into the Hall of Fame in 2013. The dominating defensive force was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round, but was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs where he helped the team win their first championship.

The NFL didn’t officially track sack numbers until the 1982 NFL season, but Culp is estimated to have accumulated 68.5 sacks throughout his career. He also spent time with the Houston Oilers, where he won Defensive Player of the Year in 1975. Culp had 11.5 unofficial sacks as a defensive tackle, which was unheard of at the time.

“[Culp] was a wonderful man of great integrity who respected the game of football and how it applied to everyday life,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter. “Curley’s humility and grace were always apparent. He loved the Hall of Fame—always proudly wearing his Gold Jacket as he visited Canton many times following his election in 2013.”

Culp was named first-team All-Pro in 1975 and second-team All-Pro on four other occasions.

“Our team certainly lost a great one today!” Tennessee Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement. “Curley was a game changer for our defense when he came to us in the trade with the Chiefs and was pivotal to our success during the Luv Ya Blue days. He rightfully earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and I was fortunate to spend some quality time with Curley and his wife Collette when we hosted the Oilers reunion this past September. They also brought two of their young grandchildren for that weekend and Curley’s love for those two was very obvious. He will forever be remembered as a ferocious nose tackle as a player and a Hall of Fame gentleman off the field.”