Vinny Ciurciu

Last updated

Vinny Ciurciu
No. 44, 50, 54, 46, 52
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1980-05-02) May 2, 1980 (age 44)
Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:240 lb (109 kg)
Career information
High school: Saint Joseph Regional (Montvale, New Jersey)
College: Boston College
Undrafted: 2003
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:115
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:2
Player stats at PFR

Vincenzo Ciurciu (born May 2, 1980) is an American former professional football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Boston College.

Contents

Ciurciu was also member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots and Detroit Lions.

Early life

Ciurciu played high school football at Saint Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey after playing one season in Elmwood Park Memorial High School in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. He was garnished all-state honors at linebacker as a junior and senior. He rushed for 1,260 yards and 25 touchdowns his senior year.

College career

Ciurciu began his college career at Clemson University as a freshman fullback in 1998. He played in 23 games between 1998 and 1999, totaling 30 carries, four catches, and one touchdown. After head coach Tommy West was fired from Clemson, Tommy Bowden was hired as head coach, and brought in a new offensive plan. This resulted in Ciurciu getting lost in the mix and prompted him to transfer to Boston College. He sat out the 2000 season at BC per transfer rules. Ciurciu moved to linebacker for the Eagles and led the team in tackles as a junior in 2001 with 87 tackles and two interceptions, and ranked second on team as a senior in 2002 with 102 tackles and one interception.

Professional career

Carolina Panthers (first stint)

After going undrafted in the 2003 NFL draft, Ciurciu was signed by the Carolina Panthers on May 2, 2003, but was released on August 31, 2003. He was re-signed to the Panthers practice squad three days later.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On October 8, 2003, the Buccaneers signed Ciurciu off the Panthers practice squad to their active roster. He was released by the Buccaneers on December 2, 2003.

Carolina Panthers (second stint)

Ciurciu was re-signed to the Panthers practice squad on December 5, 2003. He was elevated to their active roster on December 20, where he spent the remainder of the regular season and the playoffs, including the Panthers' appearance in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

In 2004, Ciurciu played in all 16 games and started four games, for an injured Dan Morgan, at middle linebacker, and registered a career-high 33 tackles, 25 of them solo tackles. In three of his four starts, he had 7 or more tackles. In 2005, he ranked second on team with 14 special teams stops. His one start of the year came against Miami on September 25 at outside linebacker in place of Will Witherspoon. In 2006, he led Carolina with a career-best 18 special teams tackles 11 of them solo tackles, and again played in all 16 games.

Minnesota Vikings

Ciurciu signed with the Minnesota Vikings following the 2006 season. In 2007, he tied for second among Vikings with 15 special teams tackles despite missing three games during the season with injuries. In 2008, he played in 14 games with one start and totaled eight tackles. He was released by the Vikings in March 2009 after his total of tackles plummeted from 15 in 2007 to eight in 2008. At the finish of his career with Minnesota, Ciurciu appeared in 27 regular seasons games, totaling 23 tackles on special teams.

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots signed Ciurciu on May 4, 2009. He was released on September 4, 2009.

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions signed Ciurciu October 22, 2009. He was re-signed on March 5, 2010.

On September 3, 2011, it was announced that Vinny Ciurciu would be suspended from four regular season games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. [1]

Related Research Articles

Patrick C. Chukwurah is a Nigerian former American football defensive end. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2001 NFL draft. He played college football at Wyoming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Lenon</span> American football player (born 1977)

Paris Michael Lenon is a former American football linebacker. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2000, then chosen by the Memphis Maniax in the XFL Draft in the fall of 2000. He played college football at University of Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heath Farwell</span> American football player and coach (born 1981)

Heath Charles Farwell is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the special teams coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Leman</span> American football player (born 1985)

Jeremy "J" Leman is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at the University of Illinois, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2008, and has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and San Diego Chargers. He is currently a football analyst for the Big Ten Network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Trusnik</span> American football player (born 1984)

Jason Trusnik is a former American football linebacker and special teamer. He was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Ohio Northern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Williams (American football)</span> American football player (born 1984)

Thomas Ray Williams is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He played college football at Southern California. Williams has been a member of the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2011, he suffered a neck injury that ended his season. The next year, the same injury forced him to retire from his football career.

Tyrone McKenzie is an American football coach and former linebacker. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. He debuted for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2010 and also played for the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at South Florida.

Olayiwola Kehinde "Kenny" Onatolu is a former American football linebacker who played in the Canadian Football League and National Football League. He was signed by the Edmonton Eskimos as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Nebraska-Omaha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captain Munnerlyn</span> American football player (born 1988)

Captain Lesean Munnerlyn is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at South Carolina for three years. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round, 216th overall of the 2009 NFL draft. Munnerlyn also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Love</span> American football player (born 1986)

Kyle William Love is a former American football nose tackle. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Love also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Mississippi State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas Austin (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1986)

Thomas Adam Austin V is an American college football coach who was most recently the offensive line coach at Clemson. He is also a former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He played college football at Clemson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Remmers</span> American football player (born 1989)

Michael Remmers is an American football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football at Oregon State, where he finished his career as the Beaver with the sixth-most starts in school history. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Denver Broncos in 2012, and has played with six different franchises in his NFL career, and started two Super Bowls.

Adarius Taylor is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He first enrolled at Iowa Western Community College then Eastern Arizona College before transferring to Florida Atlantic University. He attended Lake Gibson High School in Lakeland, Florida. He has been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, and Calgary Stampeders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Davis (American football)</span> American football player (born 1992)

Todd Davis is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League (NFL) and podcast host for DNVR Sports. He played college football at Sacramento State University and attended Paraclete High School in Lancaster, California. He was a member of the New Orleans Saints, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants. Davis retired in 2021 at the age of 29.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaquil Barrett</span> American football player (born 1992)

Shaquil Akeem Barrett is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska–Omaha Mavericks before transferring to the Colorado State Rams. Barrett was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent after the 2014 NFL draft. After five seasons with the Broncos, including winning Super Bowl 50, he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Barrett's level of play increased, making the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams in 2019 after leading the league in sacks, and in 2021 won Super Bowl LV, recording a sack in the game. He signed with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before retiring from football shortly after.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jayron Kearse</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jayron Kearse is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Clemson and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Kunaszyk</span> American football player (born 1996)

Jordan Kunaszyk is an American football linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at California and signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Franklin Jr.</span> American football player (born 1996)

Samuel Lamar Franklin is an American football safety for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krys Barnes</span> American football player (born 1998)

Krystopher Nathaniel Barnes is an American football linebacker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at UCLA, and originally signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

Christian Elliss is an American professional football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Idaho and was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings. He is the son of former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Luther Elliss and has three brothers that also play football: Kaden, Noah, and Jonah.

References

  1. ↑ Florio, Mike (September 4, 2011). "Commish suspends a slew of free agents" . Retrieved September 4, 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.