Pittsburgh Steelers expected to hire Aaron Curry as linebackers coach

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to hire former NFL linebacker Aaron Curry as their linebackers coach, On3’s Matt Zenitz reported on Sunday evening. Curry was a former top-five selection in the 2009 NFL Draft and was picked by the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, he spent four seasons coaching with the Seattle Seahawks, and he started with them in 2019. In the college football coaching ranks, the former Wake Forest star spent time with the Charlotte 49ers from 2014-2018.

Curry was one of the best players in CFB history at Wake Forest

In his playing career, he established himself as one of the greatest linebackers in college football history with the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. His breakout season came as a junior in 2007, when he returned three interceptions for touchdowns–tying the NCAA record for the most pick-sixes by a linebacker. Curry also broke the Wake Forest program record for interception return yards that year–226 yards. He finished second on the team with 99 tackles. The gifted linebacker seriously considered entering the 2008 NFL Draft, but decided to return to school for one more year. Curry did not disappoint in his final year. In his senior season, he racked up 105 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and brought home the Butkus Award–given to the nation’s best linebacker. Curry also earned first team All-American honors from ESPN, Pro Football Weekly, and Sports Illustrated.

NFL Playing Career

Curry signed a six-year, $60 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks. The contract was at the time, worth $34 million guaranteed, the most money ever guaranteed to a non-quarterback in NFL history. In 2009, he racked up 61 tackles and two sacks for the Seahawks. In 2010, he tallied 73 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

In 2011, he lost his starting job to rookie K.J. Wright. He had a brief two-year stint with the Oakland Raiders, from 2011-2012, where he racked up 47 combined tackles in two seasons. In the fall of 2013, Curry decided to retire from the National Football League.