Isaac Curtis

Isaac Fisher Curtis (born October 20, 1950) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) and spent his entire career with the Cincinnati Bengals (1973–1984). He played college football for the California Golden Bears and San Diego State Aztecs.

Isaac Curtis was a star running back as well as a hurdler that set a conference record lasting years at Santa Ana High School in California. In 1985 his former coach called him "the best running back to ever play in Orange County.

Curtis received a football scholarship to the University of California, Berkeley. For three years, he excelled as a member of Cal's track team, and he was a running back and kick returner for their football team.

Curtis contributed 18 points to Cal's team title at the 1970 NCAA University Division Outdoor Track and Field Championships. However, in January 1971 his points were revoked by the NCAA as Cal had failed to predict that Curtis' GPA would be below 1.6, causing them to retroactively lose the title. The decision was considered controversial as it was the first time the "1.6" rule was used to revoke a team title.

After he finished his junior season, Curtis transferred to San Diego State University because of the controversy surrounding the probation of Cal's football team. He excelled as a slot wide receiver during his senior season with the Aztecs under famed coach Don Coryell, who moved him from running back to receiver. That year, Curtis caught 44 passes for 832 yards and seven touchdowns.

Entering the 1973 NFL draft, the Cincinnati Bengals needed a wide receiver who had the speed to spread the field and opposing defenses for quarterback Ken Anderson. Curtis had world-class speed, running the 100-yard dash in 9.3 seconds as a member of Cal's track team. Curtis also recorded a time of 20.7 seconds in the 200-meter dash in Los Angeles in 1970.

Although Curtis had played only one year as wide receiver, Bengals coach and general manager Paul Brown decided to take a chance on him and drafted Curtis in the first round (15th overall). Later in his career, Paul Brown said that what he liked the most about Isaac Curtis was not so much his athleticism but his always quietly confident personality, saying "He's a very gentle person...no jumping up and down, spiking it, or trash talking".

Isaac Curtis made the starting lineup as a rookie and had a superb season, recording 45 receptions for 843 yards, an average of 18.7 yards per catch, and nine touchdowns.