Curtis Buckley facts for kids

Curtis LaDonn Buckley, born on September 25, 1970, is a former American football player. He played as a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL). His teams included the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, New York Giants, and Washington Redskins. Before the NFL, he played college football at Kilgore College. He also played at East Texas State University (now Texas A&M University–Commerce). There, he was recognized as an All-American and a top player in his conference.

Early Life and High School Football

Curtis Buckley was born in Oakdale, Louisiana. Later, his family moved to Silsbee, a town in Southeast Texas. He went to Silsbee High School. While there, he was a very good football player. After finishing high school, Buckley received a scholarship. This scholarship allowed him to play football at Kilgore College.

College Football Career

Playing for Kilgore College

Buckley played football for the Kilgore College Rangers. He was part of the team for two years, from 1989 to 1990. In 1990, he was named All-Conference. This means he was one of the best players in his college league. That year, his team had a great record of 9 wins and 2 losses. They also won the Texas Junior College Conference championship. The Rangers also won the 1990 Shrine Bowl game.

Playing for East Texas State

After Kilgore College, Buckley played for East Texas State in Commerce. He played for two years under coach Eddie Vowell. In 1991, Buckley helped lead the Lions' defense. Their defense was one of the top five in the country. He was named First-team All-Conference and Honorable Mention All-American as a safety.

The Lions finished second in their conference that year. They had 8 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie. They also made it to the NCAA Division II playoffs. They reached the national quarter-finals. The team ended the season ranked 19th in the nation.

In a 1991 game, Buckley made a big hit on Pittsburg State's quarterback. This helped the Lions win 20-13. This win pushed them to a #4 national ranking. In 1992, Buckley was again First-team All-Conference. He was also named Second-team All-American. The Lions finished that season with 8 wins and 3 losses. They were ranked 14th in the country.

Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL

After college, Curtis Buckley was not chosen in the 1993 NFL draft. This is called being "undrafted." However, he still signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team's head coach, Sam Wyche, almost cut him before the season started. But Buckley impressed his coaches with his amazing flips on the field.

A Fan Favorite

Buckley quickly became a favorite among fans. He was known for his powerful hits when covering kicks. He also entertained the crowd with acrobatics, like backflips. He would do these flips in the end zone before kickoffs. This happened after the Buccaneers scored points.

He and another player, Kenneth Gant, would get the crowd excited. Gant would do his "shark dance." Then Buckley would do his flip just as the ball was kicked. In 1994, Buckley made a big hit on player Brian Mitchell. Buckley was not penalized during the game, but he was later fined. Both his coach and Mitchell said it was a fair hit.

Later Teams

After four seasons, the Buccaneers let Buckley go. He then played three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers. After that, he had short times playing for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He was chosen as a Pro Bowl alternate three times. This means he was one of the best special teams players in the league.

Life After Football

Today, Curtis Buckley works as a behavioral health specialist in Dallas. He lives in Mesquite, Texas with his family.