Ronald Curry
A phenomenal two-sport college star who translated his athletic IQ into a lasting NFL career, first as a versatile receiver and later as a respected position coach.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American football player and coach·Birthday: May 28·Generation X
Biography
Ronald Curry was a North Carolina high school legend whose athletic promise seemed boundless. He chose the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he didn't just play football and basketball—he dominated in both. On the gridiron, he was a dynamic quarterback, setting school records. On the hardwood, he started for a Tar Heels team that reached the Final Four. The NFL saw him as a receiver, and the Oakland Raiders drafted him in 2002. His professional playing career, spent mostly with the Raiders, was defined by clutch moments and highlight-reel catches, though injuries were a constant challenge. That football intelligence became his true currency in retirement. He smoothly transitioned to coaching, earning respect for his detailed, player-centric approach while helping develop receiving corps for the Saints, 49ers, and now the Denver Broncos.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Ronald was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Ronald Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Ronald's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the University of North Carolina's career records for total offense and passing touchdowns as a quarterback.
- Started at point guard for the UNC basketball team that reached the 2000 NCAA Final Four.
- Played seven seasons as a wide receiver in the NFL, primarily with the Oakland Raiders, catching 193 passes for 2,347 yards.
- Served as the wide receivers coach for the New Orleans Saints during Drew Brees's record-breaking 2019 season.
Did You Know?
In high school, he was named the national football player of the year by *Parade* magazine and also a McDonald's All-American in basketball.
He caught a career-high 55 passes for the Oakland Raiders in the 2006 season.
He and former NBA star Julius Hodge are cousins.
“You play the position they need you to play to help the team win.”
