Jake Curhan Bio
Jake Curhan is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and listed around 323 pounds during his college evaluation, he has built his career on the offensive line, primarily at right tackle. After going undrafted out of the University of California, Berkeley in 2021, Curhan debuted with the Seattle Seahawks and has since played for the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers.
Born in Larkspur, California, Curhan is a Marin County native who took up football only as a high school sophomore before developing into a four-year college starter. His professional journey has taken him across multiple rosters as both a starter and a swing tackle, and he entered 2025 continuing his NFL career.
Early Life and Background
Jake Curhan was born on February 9, 1998, in Larkspur, California, a town about 16 miles north of San Francisco in Marin County. He is Jewish and grew up in the nearby community of Corte Madera with his parents, Greg and Randi Curhan, and his two older brothers. His father attended Dartmouth College, while his mother attended the University of Pennsylvania, and the family placed a strong value on education.
Every summer Curhan attended a Jewish summer camp on the east coast of the United States. He also played competitive travel basketball, and his size at a young age set him apart. As his mother recalled, opponents seemed to bounce off him during games, giving him a physical foundation that would later translate to the trenches of football.
Curhan attended Redwood High School in Larkspur, where he graduated in 2016. He played one season of high school basketball and did not begin playing football until his sophomore year. Despite his late start, he quickly developed on the offensive line and started three seasons, from 2013 to 2015, including his very first year in the sport. As a junior he earned Honorable Mention recognition in the Marin County Athletic League on both the offensive and defensive lines.
As a senior, Curhan moved to left tackle and also played on the defensive line. He earned preseason All-Northern California honors from SportStars, was listed at number 8 among players to watch by the San Francisco Chronicle, and was ranked the number 2 player in the North Bay Area by North Bay Preps. That season he served as team captain and was named Lineman of the Year by the Marin County Athletic League, first-team All-State Medium School by Cal-Hi Sports, and San Francisco All-Metro.
Path to American Football
Curhan arrived at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2016 as a three-star scholarship recruit and spent his first year as a redshirt. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, completing his degree in 2020, and quickly established himself as a fixture on the California Golden Bears offensive line.
In 2017, his first active season, Curhan started all 12 games at right tackle and earned Pac-12 Conference All-Academic honors. He adopted the nickname “the Bear Jew” on his Instagram account, and following a game against Ole Miss he was named the team’s player of the week.
As a sophomore in 2018, Curhan started all 13 games and repeated his Pac-12 All-Academic honor. Heading into his junior year he was named fourth-team preseason All-Pac-12 by Athlon and Phil Steele, and earned honorable mention recognition from Pro Football Focus. He was a first-team midseason All-Pac-12 selection by SB Nation and a second-team selection by the Bay Area News Group, while starting every game for the third straight year and earning All-Pac-12 honors from Phil Steele and PFF.
Before the 2020 season, Curhan was a Preseason All-California Region selection by SportsPac12, was placed on the preseason Outland Trophy Watch List, and received multiple preseason All-Pac-12 nods. In a shortened four-game 2020 season impacted by COVID-19 contact tracing, he made two starts and was given honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors by the conference’s coaches. Across his college career he started all 40 games he played, all at right tackle, and chose to declare for the NFL draft rather than use an extra year of eligibility.
Jake Curhan Career
Professional Career (2021-Present)
The website Walter Football ranked Curhan as the number 16 offensive tackle in the 2021 draft class, calling him a steady pass protector and quality run blocker with a projection of being picked in the third to fifth round. He was not selected during the 2021 NFL draft, which ran from April 29 to May 1, 2021. On January 30, 2021, he had played for the National team in a 27-24 victory over the American squad in the 2021 Senior Bowl, and he posted a 5.42 40-yard dash at California’s annual Pro Day on March 18, 2021.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2021-2023)
Curhan was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent, receiving the largest signing bonus among the team’s undrafted class. He became the only undrafted free agent to make the Seahawks’ regular season roster in 2021. After back-to-back impressive preseason starts at right tackle, during which head coach Pete Carroll noted he allowed only one pressure on roughly 27 or 28 pass attempts, Curhan secured a spot on the 53-man roster on August 31, 2021.
He made his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts on September 12, 2021, appearing on four snaps in a 28-16 win. His first start came on December 12 at right tackle. In 2021, he played 405 snaps across 15 games with five starts, all resulting in team victories, and was not penalized a single time. He closed the season by starting the final five games at right tackle and playing every offensive snap during that stretch, earning a Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade that ranked 16th among 54 qualified tackles.
Entering the 2023 season as a backup tackle, Curhan stepped into the starting lineup in Week 2 after an injury to right tackle Abraham Lucas and started the next four games. He was waived on November 18, 2023, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted back to the active roster on December 30, 2023.
Chicago Bears Era (2024)
On March 18, 2024, Curhan signed with the Chicago Bears. He was waived on August 27 as part of roster moves and was re-signed to the practice squad. Curhan was promoted to the active roster on November 9, 2024, continuing his role as a versatile depth piece on the offensive line.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025)
On April 3, 2025, Curhan signed a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals. He was waived on August 26 during final roster cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day, preserving his standing within the organization.
Carolina Panthers Era (2025-Present)
On October 1, 2025, Curhan was signed by the Carolina Panthers off the Cardinals’ practice squad, joining the offensive line group and continuing his NFL career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although best known as an offensive lineman rather than a driver, Curhan has been praised throughout his career for steady pass protection and quality run blocking. Scouting reports highlighted his underrated athleticism at 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds, along with the length and leverage that make him effective in the trenches. His reliability was visible in his rookie season, when he played 405 snaps without a single penalty and earned a top-20 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade among qualified tackles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the signature moments of Curhan’s career are his standout 2021 preseason with the Seahawks, his zero-penalty rookie regular season, his five consecutive starts to close that year, and his 2021 Senior Bowl appearance for the National team. Each stop along his journeyman path has reinforced his reputation as a reliable, versatile offensive tackle.
Jake Curhan Career Highlights
Across his NFL career, Jake Curhan has been valued primarily as a dependable offensive tackle capable of stepping into starting roles when called upon. He started every college game he played at California and has continued to deliver steady play at the professional level.
NFL Highlights
Curhan’s most prominent NFL moment came during his 2021 rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks, when he started the final five games at right tackle, played 405 total snaps, and finished without a penalty. He later earned starts with the Seahawks in 2023 after an injury to Abraham Lucas, and he has since moved through the Chicago Bears, Arizona Cardinals, and Carolina Panthers, contributing as a swing tackle and practice squad presence.
Other Performances
Beyond his NFL regular-season work, Curhan logged an impressive 2021 preseason with the Seahawks and delivered a strong showing at the 2021 Senior Bowl. His college career, in which he started all 40 games he played at right tackle for the California Golden Bears, remains the foundation of his professional resume.
Jake Curhan Family
Family Background and Lineage
Jake Curhan was raised in Corte Madera, California, by his parents, Greg Curhan and Randi Curhan. His father attended Dartmouth College and his mother attended the University of Pennsylvania, reflecting a family background steeped in higher education. Curhan also grew up with two older brothers, and the family has strong Jewish cultural ties that shaped his childhood summers at an east coast Jewish summer camp.
Personal Life
Curhan continues to live in Larkspur, California, the same Marin County community where he was born and raised. Outside of football he is active on social media, including an Instagram account where he previously used the nickname “the Bear Jew” during his college years, reflecting his pride in both his California roots and his Jewish heritage.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a year of transition for Jake Curhan. After signing a one-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals on April 3, 2025, he competed throughout the offseason and preseason before being waived on August 26 as part of final roster cuts. He rejoined the Cardinals’ practice squad the very next day, preserving his place in the league.
On October 1, 2025, Curhan was signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad by the Carolina Panthers, giving him a fresh opportunity within a new offensive line room. The midseason move added veteran tackle depth to Carolina and gave Curhan another chance to compete for a role on the active roster.
For the remainder of 2025, Curhan’s outlook centers on carving out a spot along the Panthers’ offensive line and continuing the journeyman career he has built since 2021. His experience starting 40 college games and multiple NFL contests positions him as a reliable depth option, with the chance to contribute whenever his number is called.