After addressing two defensive coaching vacancies internally last week, the Buffalo Bills went outside of their ranks to find their new quarterbacks coach. On Wednesday, the team announced Ronald Curry as their new quarterbacks coach.
Curry joins the Bills after spending the past eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints. It was reported that the new Saints regime offered Curry the job of wide receivers coach, but he opted to join Buffalo.
Here are five things to know about Buffalo’s new quarterbacks coach:
Worked under Sean Payton for much of his coaching careerCurry would coach high school football for three seasons before taking an offensive assistant role from 2014-2015 with the San Francisco 49ers. After being let go in San Francisco, Curry would call New Orleans home from 2016-2023. From 2016-2021, Curry coached under Sean Payton. He wore many hats in New Orleans under Payton serving as an offensive assistant (2016-2017), wide receivers coach (2018-2020) and quarterbacks coach (2021).
After Payton left the Saints, Curry added passing game coordinator to his quarterbacks coach title (2022-2023).
Coached with Joe BradyDuring his time in New Orleans, Curry coached with Joe Brady from 2017-2018. Both served as offensive assistants in 2017. Brady remained in that role in 2018 while Curry moved to wide receivers coach. A reunion with Brady likely swayed Curry to come to Buffalo.
Two-sport athlete at UNCOut of high school, Curry was one of the most sought after athletes in college sports. Curry was considered a top-10 recruit in college football and basketball. Curry verbally committed to Virginia before signing with North Carolina.
When his college football career was over, Curry was UNC’s all-time leader in both total yards and passing yards. Curry was also named the MVP of two bowl games (1998 Las Vegas Bowl and the 2001 Peach Bowl) during his collegiate career. This was impressive considering he missed time with an injury and had three different offensive coordinators in his time at Chapel Hill.
Curry also played basketball for UNC. He was known for his defensive play. Joining Curry as a two-sport athlete at UNC was Julius Peppers.
Former NFL playerCurry was drafted in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft (No. 235 overall) by the then-Oakland Raiders. The Raiders drafted Curry to play quarterback, but by 2003 his new home was at wide receiver. Curry would only haul in five passes as a receiver in 2003 for 31 yards, but saw his totals skyrocket in 2004 when he caught 50 passes for 679 yards and six touchdowns. He would go on to total 700-plus yards receiving twice in his career with the Raiders (2006, 2007). Curry would remain with the Raiders through 2008 before attempting to make the rosters of the Detroit Lions and then-St. Louis Rams in 2009.
He finished his pro career with 193 receptions for 2,347 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Scored TD vs. Bills in 2004One of Curry’s best games as a pro came against the Bills in 2004. Curry hauled in five catches for 89 yards and one touchdown in the Raiders’ 13-10 win over Buffalo.
