# Julius Curry > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Julius_Curry > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Julius_Curry.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Curry > Source revision: 1276362223 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Strong_safety), [Punt returner](/source/Punt_returner) | number = 26 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|17}} | birth_place = [Detroit, Michigan](/source/Detroit%2C_Michigan), U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 0 | weight_lbs = 195 | college = [Michigan](/source/Michigan_Wolverines_football) | undraftedyear = 2003 | pastteams = * [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) ({{NFL Year|2003}})* * [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) ({{NFL Year|2003}}) * [Green Bay Packers](/source/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](/source/American_football) player who was a [defensive back](/source/defensive_back) for the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/college_football) as a [strong safety](/source/strong_safety) and [punt returner](/source/punt_returner) for the [Michigan Wolverines](/source/Michigan_Wolverines_football) from 1999 to 2002. He played in the NFL for the Lions, [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears), and [Green Bay Packers](/source/Green_Bay_Packers). ==University of Michigan== Born in [Detroit](/source/Detroit), Michigan, Curry played [college football](/source/college_football) at the [University of Michigan](/source/University_of_Michigan) from 1999 to 2002.{{cite web|title=2000 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2000fbt.htm}}{{cite web|title=2001 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2001fbt.htm}}{{cite web|title=2002 Football Team|publisher=University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library|url=https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/fbteam/2002fbt.htm}}{{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 }} He was a [strong safety](/source/strong_safety) and [punt returner](/source/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. He also accumulated 100 tackles, four interceptions, three fumble recoveries and seven pass break-ups. In the 2000 game against [Ohio State](/source/2000_Ohio_State_Buckeyes_football_team), Curry intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to help Michigan beat the Buckeyes, 38–26. In the [2001 Florida Citrus Bowl](/source/2001_Florida_Citrus_Bowl), Curry had a key interception to help Michigan to a 31–28 victory over [Auburn](/source/2000_Auburn_Tigers_football_team). 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](/source/Anthony_Thomas_(American_football)) scored a touchdown six plays later to give Michigan a 21–14 lead at halftime.{{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}} As a junior, Curry had 97 return yards on four punts and a kickoff in an early season game against [Washington](/source/2001_Washington_Huskies_football_team). He missed the final seven games of the 2001 season with nerve damage to his right shoulder.{{cite news|title=Curry is ready to play|newspaper=The Detroit News|date=December 30, 2001}} As a senior, Curry had the best game of his career in a 10–7 win over [Utah](/source/Utah_Utes_football).{{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}} In the Utah game, Curry intercepted two passes and returned 8 punts for a career-best 105 yards. Curry's final game for Michigan was a 38–30 win over [Florida](/source/2002_Florida_Gators_football_team) in the [2003 Outback Bowl](/source/2003_Outback_Bowl); Curry had eight tackles and a pass break-up in the game. ==Professional football== After being released by the [Chicago Bears](/source/Chicago_Bears) during the 2003 preseason,{{cite news|last=Haugh|first=David|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71640402/|title=Toe sidelines Azumah|newspaper=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|date=August 26, 2003|access-date=February 20, 2021}} Curry joined the [Detroit Lions](/source/Detroit_Lions). He appeared in three games and was credited with two tackles for the Lions.{{cite web|title=Julius Curry |publisher=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CurrJu20.htm}} Curry would spend the 2004 and 2005 seasons on the [Green Bay Packers](/source/Green_Bay_Packers)' [practice squad](/source/practice_squad) and offseason roster.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71640484/|title=41 Julius Curry|newspaper=[Green Bay Press-Gazette](/source/Green_Bay_Press-Gazette)|via=[Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|date=July 24, 2005|access-date=February 20, 2021}} ==NASCAR== In 2006, Curry formed Curry Racing, Inc., to compete in the [NASCAR](/source/NASCAR) [Craftsman Truck Series](/source/Craftsman_Truck_Series); Curry Racing was the first Truck Series team to feature sole African-American ownership.{{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}}{{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}} 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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Julius Curry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Curry) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Curry?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.