The Buffalo Bills have appointed former Ronald Curry as their next quarterbacks coach, according to CBS’ Jonathan Jones. Curry, a former standout in both basketball and football at North Carolina, has spent the last ten years as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers (2014-15) and the New Orleans Saints (2016-23). During his time with the Saints, he served as quarterbacks coach for three seasons. Although he was offered the wide receivers position this offseason, Curry eagerly accepted the opportunity to work with Josh Allen, one of the league’s premier passers.
Before embarking on his coaching career and a seven-year tenure in the NFL as a player, Curry achieved remarkable success as a high school athlete. At Hampton (Va.) High School, he earned accolades such as McDonald’s National Basketball Player of the Year and Parade’s National Football Player of the Year.
On the basketball court, Curry set records for points and assists at his school and boasted impressive averages of 21.9 points, 5.7 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.0 steals per game in his senior year. He also claimed the Most Valuable Player title at the 1998 McDonald’s High School Basketball All-Star Game and won the slam dunk contest at the event. On the football field, Curry led Hampton to three consecutive state championships as quarterback, safety, punter, and kick/punt returner. He amassed 8,212 passing yards (a state record) and 90 touchdowns, along with 3,307 rushing yards and 74 scores during his high school career.
Upon entering the University of North Carolina in 1998, Curry quickly established himself as the team’s starting quarterback. Despite facing changes in coaching staff throughout his four-year stint, Curry still holds impressive rankings in UNC history for career passing yards, passing touchdowns, and total touchdowns. He also earned MVP honors at both the 1998 Las Vegas Bowl and the 2001 Peach Bowl.
In addition to his football prowess, Curry also showcased his talents on the basketball court for UNC alongside Julius Peppers from 1998 to 2001, starting in 28 out of 54 possible games. He contributed solid numbers as a sophomore and played a role in his team’s share of the ACC regular-season title.
Following his college career, Curry was drafted by the NFL’s Oakland Raiders in the seventh round of the 2002 draft. He transitioned to wide receiver in the pros and became one of the Raiders’ leading pass-catchers in the early 2000s, despite grappling with multiple Achilles tendon injuries. After a successful stint with the Raiders, Curry’s injuries eventually led to a decline in performance, and he was released in 2009, signaling the conclusion of his NFL journey. He then transitioned to coaching, starting at Mooresville (N.C.) Christian Academy in 2010 as the athletic director and head football coach.
