Philadelphia Eagles: Good luck in 2022, Vinny Curry

Vinny Curry had a tough break in 2021.

After a solid second tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles that saw the homegrown draftee appear in 27 games with five starts over two seasons, Curry was allowed to test the open market for the second time in his 11-year career and opted to sign with his kind of home state New York Jets, who technically play their games in North Jersey.

Presumably sold on the idea of playing the big end in Robert Saleh‘s defensive front, Curry agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal to relocate up I-95 for a season of work, even if his heart would surely remain in South Philly.

… but then disaster struck, and Vinny Curry’s season and playing career as a whole went up in the air.

Hopefully, things work out better for the ex-Philadelphia Eagles DE in 2022.

Things started out relatively normal for Vinny Curry in 2021. He signed his contract, took a picture for good measure, and went to camp for his physical. What wasn’t usual, however, was what happened at said physical, as the Neptune, New Jersey native was diagnosed with a “rare blood disorder” that required the removal of his spleen and cost him the entire 2021 NFL season.

Curry was quickly placed on season-ending IR, went on blood thinners, and was ultimately released by the Jets in January of 2022.

If a few photos of Curry in a New York Jets uniform were the last we saw of the former second-round pick in the NFL, it would be a sad end to a deceptively enduring career. After immediately finding himself a square peg fitting in the round hole of Billy Davis’ defense, Curry was finally afforded an opportunity to play his natural position, 4-3 defensive end, for Jim Schwartz from 2016-17, where his ability to play inside and out helped to fuel a defensive resurgence in South Philly that propelled the team all the way to a parade down Broad Street.

From there, Curry – and Beau Allen – signed a new, long-term deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but was ultimately waived one year into his three-year, $27 million contract, which opened the doors for his return back to where it all began. Though his second tenure with the Eagles wasn’t as effective as his first, Curry still finished out his second run with eight sacks and 43 tackles under his once and future defensive coordinator.

While Jonathan Gannon wasn’t as keen on bringing back Curry for a ninth season in midnight green, his performance was good enough to secure the aforementioned contract with the Joe Douglas and the Jets.

And then? Nothing… at least until April 20th, 2022, when the Jets announced that they had re-signed Curry to a second one-year contract in the hopes of following through with the role he was sold on a little under a year prior.

Not quite midnight green, but hey, a pleasant sight nonetheless.

So Vinny Curry, good luck in 2022, After having to undergo surgery, lose a year of your football playing career, and having your very livelihood called into question due to no fault of your own, it’ll be nice to see you on the field once more this fall, even if it isn’t as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.