The Pittsburgh Steelers recently hired a new inside linebacker coach, Aaron Curry. Curry was a highly sought-after draft pick in 2009 and was taken fourth overall. After playing in the NFL for a few years, Curry left playing to coach.
Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers hire former first-round draft pick Aaron Curry as their new inside linebackers coach.
He started his coaching journey at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. While in Charlotte, Coach Curry crossed paths with Larry Ogunjobi and Alex Highsmith and now all three have been reunited in Pittsburgh. He left Carolina to move up to the NFL when he joined the Seattle Seahawks as outside linebackers coach in 2020.
Now Curry has returned to the east coach to join the Steelers after the release of Jerry Olsavsky. In an exclusive interview, Curry spoke about coming to Pittsburgh and the magic words head coach Mike Tomlin spoke that let him know this was a perfect fit.
steelers.com
A UNC-C reunion in Pittsburgh, (left to right) Alex Highsmith, Aaron Curry and Larry Ogunjobi.
Steelers Coach Aaron Curry On Mike Tomlin's One Profound Sentence
Curry recently appeared on the House of Yinzer podcast and talked about coming to Pittsburgh and how he feels he can contribute to the team. He was asked about his hiring and getting that call from Tomlin.
"It was just a match made in heaven, a really good fit for me and I was a good fit for the coaching staff. I thought it was a great opportunity for me to take my coaching journey to the next level."
"It was exciting, not something you think of every day that a guy like Coach Tomlin would be on the phone requesting to interview you, requesting your services. So cool with Coach Tomlin's history, his reputation, to be able to work with him is an exciting opportunity for myself."
Curry feels that his coaching philosophy focuses on the fundamentals and marries nicely with what the Steelers embody.
"I believe in training the fundamentals, engaging everybody in the room. You have to have a foundation of accountability. I think it's really important for me to capitalize on each player's strengths and to have high standards."
He was asked if he feels that he has more credibility with the players because he previously played in the NFL.
"I do believe it plays a role, but I don't take that for granted. I know that when I walk into a room in the NFL, the players expect and demand that, I will be ready to teach what I am teaching that day. They're going to expect me to have clarity in my thoughts, they're going to expect me to be concise. They're not going to settle for me just being a former player and accepting that as the reason why they should hear me out."
"I think what's most critical for NFL athletes is that as a coach I show them the respect and the professionalism to gain their trust and then they'll begin to lean into my teaching, my thought processes, and that way we can maximize the talents of the players that we have."
Curry talked about his first impressions of Tomlin and said that when he spoke with him during the interview process, he made a simple statement that got him fired up.
"Coach Tomlin, he's everything I thought he would be and more, he's a really powerful presence. Every word he says, he says with conviction, he's passionate about the Pittsburgh Steelers. He's passionate about playing defense."
"One of the first things, I will never forget he said to me in this process was, 'We play defense' and that may sound simple, but the conviction and the passion in which he said, 'We play defense' spoke to my obligation as a football coach to ensure that we play great defense. It was a very simple statement and it impacted me, it really stoked my fire and fueled my passion to help this defense be great. I've been working like a madman trying to make sure that we play defense."
Screenshot from House of Yinzer
Coach Aaron Curry talks about joining the staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He closed out the interview with a promise to Steeler Nation.
"I'm gonna give the Steelers and Mr. Rooney, the Rooney family, and Coach Tomlin everything I got. I'm not gonna hold back. I'm gonna give him everything I got, every ounce of my soul. I believe being that way it's gonna be beneficial. After all, he gives it the same, he's not going to accept anything less."
What do you think about the Coach Curry hire? Do you think he will be a good fit? How do you think he can help our inside linebackers improve? What do you think of Curry's philosophy and attitude? Click to comment below.
#SteelerNation
