{{Short description|American football player (born 1979)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Julius Curry | image = | caption = | position = Strong safety, Punt returner | number = 26 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|17}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 195 | college = Michigan | undraftedyear = 2003 | pastteams = * Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2003}})* * Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2003}}) * Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|2004}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})* | highlights = | statleague = college | statlabel1 = Punt return yards | statvalue1 = 522 | statlabel2 = Tackles | statvalue2 = 100 | statlabel3 = Interception return yards | statvalue3 = 116 | HOF = | CollegeHOF = }} '''Julius Justin Curry''' (born May 17, 1979) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football as a strong safety and punt returner for the Michigan Wolverines from 1999 to 2002. He played in the NFL for the Lions, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.
==University of Michigan== Born in Detroit, Michigan, Curry played college football at the University of Michigan from 1999 to 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=2000 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2000fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2001 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2001fbt.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=2002 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2002fbt.htm}}</ref><ref name=Stat>{{cite web|title=Michigan Football Statistic Archive Query Page |publisher=University of Michigan |url=http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071112175906/http://stats.ath.umich.edu/football/footstart.php |archivedate=2007-11-12 }}</ref> He was a strong safety and punt returner for the Wolverines. In his college football career, he gained 522 yards on 48 punt returns for an average of 10.9 yards per return.<ref name=Stat/> He also accumulated 100 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven pass break-ups.<ref name=Stat/>
In the 2000 game against Ohio State, Curry intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to help Michigan beat the Buckeyes, 38–26.<ref name=Stat/>
In the 2001 Florida Citrus Bowl, Curry had a key interception to help Michigan to a 31–28 victory over Auburn. With the score tied 14–14 and Auburn driving deep in Michigan territory, Curry intercepted a Ken Leard pass at the Michigan 15-yard line and returned it 39 yards to the Auburn 46-yard line. Anthony Thomas scored a touchdown six plays later to give Michigan a 21–14 lead at halftime.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeff McIntyre|title=Defenseless: Wolverines roll up 453 yards against SEC's No. 1 defense, spoil Auburn QB Ken Leard's record game|newspaper=Times Daily|date=January 2, 2001|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=i1IeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8scEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4438,165777&dq=julius+curry+auburn&hl=en}}</ref>
As a junior, Curry had 97 return yards on four punts and a kickoff in an early season game against Washington.<ref name=Stat/> He missed the final seven games of the 2001 season with nerve damage to his right shoulder.<ref>{{cite news|title=Curry is ready to play|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=December 30, 2001}}</ref> As a senior, Curry had the best game of his career in a 10–7 win over Utah.<ref>{{cite news|title='M' Muddles Way Past Utes: Julius Curry intercepts two passes to stifle Utah and preserve 10-7 win|newspaper=The Argus-Press|date=September 22, 2002|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-0giAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ba0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=3478,1893139&dq=curry+julius-curry&hl=en}}</ref> In the Utah game, Curry intercepted two passes and returned 8 punts for a career-best 105 yards.<ref name=Stat/> Curry's final game for Michigan was a 38–30 win over Florida in the 2003 Outback Bowl; Curry had eight tackles and a pass break-up in the game.<ref name=Stat/>
==Professional football== After being released by the Chicago Bears during the 2003 preseason,<ref>{{cite news|last=Haugh|first=David|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71640402/|title=Toe sidelines Azumah|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=August 26, 2003|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref> Curry joined the Detroit Lions. He appeared in three games and was credited with two tackles for the Lions.<ref name=PFR>{{cite web|title=Julius Curry |publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CurrJu20.htm}}</ref> Curry would spend the 2004 and 2005 seasons on the Green Bay Packers' practice squad and offseason roster.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71640484/|title=41 Julius Curry|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=July 24, 2005|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>
==NASCAR== In 2006, Curry formed Curry Racing, Inc., to compete in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series; Curry Racing was the first Truck Series team to feature sole African-American ownership.<ref>{{cite news|author=Alex Barber|title=Craven returning to truck series for limited run|newspaper=Bangor Daily New|date=March 23, 2006|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6AE1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=O08KAAAAIBAJ&pg=5797,1995780&dq=julius-curry&hl=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Montgomery to Drive for Newly Formed Curry Racing|publisher=Truck Series.com|date=March 9, 2006|url=http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_06/articles/000064/006460.htm}}</ref> However, the team would not run a race.
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Curry, Julius}} Category:1979 births Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:Detroit Lions players Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Detroit