Former Baltimore Colts linebacker Mike Curtis died this week at the age of 77.
Curtis was known for being a hard-hitting set of pads behind the tackles, and proved his worth in a 14-year career, for three different teams, the majority of his time spent in Baltimore.
The four time Pro-Bowler was known around the league as “Mad Dog” and was drafted with the 14th overall pick in the 1965 NFL draft. The man out of Duke was named first-team All-Pro after the 1968 and 1969 seasons. During those years, Curtis spearheaded a defensive crew that allowed the fewest points in the league and ranked second in yards allowed. The Colts would go 13-1 in the ’69 season, unfortunately losing to the Jets in the third Super Bowl.
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Interestingly enough, as hard-hitting of a linebacker as Curtis was on the field, his most memorable moment comes from a 1971 game against the Miami Dolphins, where a fan tried to run on the field and steal the ball. The fan was met with an blindsiding, smashing blow from Curtis seconds after making it on to the field.
Two years after the loss to the Jets, Curtis and the Colts finally got their revenge, beating the Cowboys, 16-13 in Super Bowl V. Curtis sealed the victory in the fourth quarter with an interception late down the stretch.
Curtis finished his career with the Washington Redskins, and also had a stint with the Seattle Seahawks in 1976, when the team was announced as a new, expansion club.
