Dan Currie

{{About|the American football player|other people with the same name|Dan Currie (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| image = Dan Currie Topps 1959.jpg

| caption = Currie's 1959 Topps card

| alt = A trading card with Dan Currie in uniform with the words "Dan Currie, Linebacker, Green Bay Packers" at the bottom

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|6|27|mf=y}}

| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|09|11|1935|6|27|mf=y}}

| death_place = Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

| number = 58

| position = Linebacker

| high_school = Detroit (MI) St. Anthony

| college = Michigan State

| draftyear = 1958

| draftround = 1

| draftpick = 3

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 3

| weight_lbs = 235

| teams =

Green Bay Packers (1958–1964)
Los Angeles Rams (1965–1966)

| highlights =

2× NFL champion (1961, 1962)
First-team All-Pro (1962)
2× Second-team All-Pro (1961, 1963)
Pro Bowl (1960)
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
Consensus All-American (1957)
Second-team All-American (1956)
First-team All-Big Ten (1957)
Second-team All-Big Ten (1956)

| statlabel1 = Interceptions

| statvalue1 = 11

| statlabel2 = Fumble recoveries

| statvalue2 = 7

| statlabel3 = Games played

| statvalue3 = 118

}}

Daniel George Currie (June 27, 1935 – September 11, 2017) was an American football player in the National Football League (NFL). He played linebacker for nine seasons with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams.{{cite news |url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/245473971.html |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |last=Reischel |first=Rob |title=One a star, Dan Currie's still a fan |date=December 18, 2003 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=April 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160424054814/http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/245473971.html |url-status=live }}

Early years

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Currie played college football at Michigan State in East Lansing and was an All-American linebacker and center for the Spartans as a senior {{nowrap|in 1957.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gmUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7165%2C2063056 |newspaper=Tuscaloosa News |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Eight All-Americans on North roster for Senior Bowl |date=December 13, 1957 |page=8 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312083442/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gmUeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5JkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7165,2063056 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QCwxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6992%2C3095879 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=Pro gridders are made, not born |date=March 27, 1960 |page=3, sports |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312083304/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QCwxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ABAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6992,3095879 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/top50-football/2015/07/07/msu-top-50-dan-currie/29765127/ |newspaper=Lansing State Journal |location=Michigan |last=Couch |first=Graham |title=MSU's top 50 football players: No. 32 Dan Currie |date=July 7, 2015 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327195533/https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/top50-football/2015/07/07/msu-top-50-dan-currie/29765127/ |url-status=live }}}}

Playing career

Currie was the third overall selection of the 1958 NFL draft, the first pick of the Packers.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V0gaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CCYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4431%2C3175345 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Johnson |first=Chuck |title=Why Currie? He is tops, Packer say |date=December 3, 1957 |page=19 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429071754/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=V0gaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CCYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4431,3175345 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x2xQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8A8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7278%2C1712799 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=Liz drafts Currie top Big 10 center |date=December 3, 1957 |page=4, part 2 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160505225543/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=x2xQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8A8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7278,1712799 |url-status=dead }} In that draft, the Packers also selected Jim Taylor of LSU (2nd round, 15th overall), Ray Nitschke of Illinois (3rd round, 36th), and Jerry Kramer of Idaho (4th round, 39th).{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CzAgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LioEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602%2C1638949 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |last=Wolf |first=Bob |title=Packers' 1958 draft may have been greatest ever |date=May 3, 1979 |page=3, part 3 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160504001200/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CzAgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LioEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602,1638949 |url-status=live }} all future members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In his rookie season in 1958 under first-year head coach Ray "Scooter" McLean, the Packers were a league worst {{nowrap|1–10–1;}} McLean was fired in December and Vince Lombardi was hired as head coach in January 1959. After reviewing film of the Packers' previous season, Lombardi stated that Currie was the only player on the team that he would not trade or release.{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/news/dan-currie-vince-lombardi-established-a-sense-of-pride | title = Dan Currie: Vince Lombardi established a sense of pride | date = March 5, 2020 | access-date = March 6, 2020 | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | publisher = Green Bay Packers, Inc. | url-status = live | archive-date = March 6, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200306155309/https://www.packers.com/news/dan-currie-vince-lombardi-established-a-sense-of-pride}} Green Bay went {{nowrap|7–5}} that season and then were in three consecutive NFL title games; they lost to Philadelphia in 1960 and won in 1961 and 1962, both over the New York Giants. Currie was an All-Pro in {{nfly|1962}}, one of ten Packers on the 22-man Associated Press team,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ChssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nMYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2666%2C4856719 |newspaper=Florence Times |location=Alabama |agency=Associated Press |title=Green Bay places 10 on All-Pro, 4 Giants picked |date=December 12, 1962 |page=3, section 4 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312083624/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ChssAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nMYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2666%2C4856719 |url-status=live }} and was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated in December 1961.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1961/12/18/618707/green-bay-a-corner-on-defense |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Maule |first=Tex |author-link=Tex Maule |title=Green Bay: a corner on defense |date=December 18, 1961 |page=28 |access-date=December 11, 2017 |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730211331/https://www.si.com/vault/1961/12/18/618707/green-bay-a-corner-on-defense |url-status=live }}

After seven seasons in Green Bay, Currie was traded to the Rams in April 1965 for receiver {{nowrap|Carroll Dale.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5oZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5942%2C3178474 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel | last = Lea | first = Bud | author-link = Bud Lea |title=Vince trades Currie for Rams' end Dale |date=April 14, 1965 |page=2, part 2 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506051829/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5oZQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QhEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5942,3178474 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o1kdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cVcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5606%2C3109701 |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |agency=UPI |title=Green Bay, L.A. swap gridders |date=April 14, 1965 |page=B-5 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118022829/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o1kdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cVcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5606%2C3109701 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CpscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wmUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3850%2C3554675 |newspaper=Spartanburg Herald |location=South Carolina |agency=Associated Press |title=Green Bay trades Currie for Dale |date=April 14, 1965 |page=20 |access-date=February 26, 2016 |archive-date=March 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312083209/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CpscAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wmUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3850%2C3554675 |url-status=live }}}} {{nowrap|He played}} two years for Los Angeles, then missed the final cut in September 1967 season at {{nowrap|age 32.{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7icEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2619%2C2776627 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |agency=wire services |title=Currie, Fortunato cut as pros trim rosters |date=September 7, 1967 |page=11, part 2 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=May 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508090714/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3wIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7icEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2619,2776627 |url-status=dead }}}} In 1984, he was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.{{Cite web | url = https://www.packers.com/history/hof/dan-currie | title = Dan Currie | last = Christl | first = Cliff | author-link = Cliff Christl | website = Packers.com | access-date = September 20, 2023 | archive-date = June 1, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230601090005/https://www.packers.com/history/hof/dan-currie | url-status = live }}

After football

Currie was later a defensive coach at Milton College in Wisconsin,{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7HdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=chEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5013%2C1721243 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=wire services |title=Currie to coach at Milton |date=March 22, 1973 |page=1, part 2 |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117124129/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7HdQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=chEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5013%2C1721243 |url-status=live }} which closed in 1982. He moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s and worked in casino security;{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rr4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3693%2C4226020 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |title=What happened to...Dan Currie? |date=November 26, 2003 |page=2C |access-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117152344/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rr4aAAAAIBAJ&sjid=i0UEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3693%2C4226020 |url-status=live }} he died at age 82 at Mountain View Hospital {{nowrap|in 2017.{{cite news |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ron-kantowski/remembering-dan-currie-the-most-dapper-of-lombardis-packers/ |work=Las Vegas Review-Journal |last=Kantowski |first=Ron |title=Remembering Dan Currie, the most Dapper of Lombardi's Packers |date=September 13, 2017 |access-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-date=July 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234446/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/sports-columns/ron-kantowski/remembering-dan-currie-the-most-dapper-of-lombardis-packers/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news|url=http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-daily-news-story/article-1/Former-Packers-linebacker-Dan-Currie-dies-at-82/26f8cccc-2306-4d0b-bed1-06d5cf4bd522|title=Former Packers linebacker Dan Currie dies at 82|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914015443/http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-daily-news-story/article-1/Former-Packers-linebacker-Dan-Currie-dies-at-82/26f8cccc-2306-4d0b-bed1-06d5cf4bd522|url-status=live}}}}

References

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Category:1935 births

Category:2017 deaths

Category:Players of American football from Detroit

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Michigan State Spartans football players

Category:All-American college football players

Category:Green Bay Packers players

Category:Los Angeles Rams players

Category:Western Conference Pro Bowl players

Category:Coaches of American football from Michigan

Category:Milton Wildcats football coaches

Category:Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame