McClendon Curtis Bio
McClendon Jerrell Curtis is an American professional football offensive guard for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 16, 1999, in Harrison, Tennessee, Curtis played college football for the Chattanooga Mocs before entering the professional ranks as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He has since spent time with multiple NFL organizations, working to establish himself as a reliable interior lineman at the highest level of American football.
Standing 198 centimeters tall and weighing 150 kilograms, Curtis brings the size and frame expected of an NFL offensive guard. His path from a two-star high school recruit to a professional football player reflects steady development through the college ranks and persistence across several NFL practice squads.
Early Life and Background
McClendon Jerrell Curtis grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he attended Chattanooga Central High School. At Harrison, he played both football and basketball, showcasing his athletic versatility as a young athlete. The school, located in the Chattanooga suburb of Harrison, helped shape his early love for competitive sports.
Coming out of high school, Curtis was rated as a two-star recruit by recruiting services. Despite his rating, he drew attention from a number of college programs. He ultimately committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, choosing the Mocs over UT Martin and several Football Bowl Subdivision programs including Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, MTSU, Ohio, Temple, and Western Kentucky.
Hailing from a place known for producing tough, blue-collar athletes, Curtis brought a strong work ethic to the college game. His upbringing in the Tennessee football culture helped prepare him for the physical demands of the offensive line position.
Path to American Football
Curtis redshirted his true freshman season at Chattanooga, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the college game. He transitioned into a starting role going into his redshirt sophomore year, taking over as the Mocs’ starting right guard. That season, he started all 12 of the team’s games, establishing himself as a consistent presence on the offensive line.
As his college career progressed, Curtis earned repeated recognition from the Southern Conference. He was named first-team All-Southern Conference as a redshirt junior and repeated the honor as a redshirt senior, starting every game at guard for the Mocs. After the coronavirus pandemic granted college athletes an extra year of eligibility for those who played in 2020, Curtis decided to return to Chattanooga for a sixth season.
During spring practices ahead of his final college season, Curtis moved to offensive tackle, expanding his positional versatility. He closed his college career by winning the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Award, recognizing him as the best blocker in the Southern Conference. Following the conclusion of his time at Chattanooga, he was invited to play in the prestigious 2023 Senior Bowl, capping an impressive collegiate journey.
McClendon Curtis Career
Early Career (2023)
McClendon Jerrell Curtis signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on May 12, 2023, beginning his professional football journey. He was waived on August 29, 2023, but did not have to wait long for another opportunity, as he was quickly re-signed to the Raiders’ practice squad to continue his development.
On September 13, 2023, Curtis was signed by the Seattle Seahawks off the Raiders practice squad. The move gave him a fresh start with a new organization and an opportunity to grow within a different offensive system. His first professional season was spent learning the nuances of NFL-level play while adjusting to the speed and complexity of professional schemes.
Seattle Seahawks Era (2023-2024)
Curtis spent his initial NFL development time with the Seattle Seahawks, working through the typical path of practice squad movement and active roster promotion. On August 27, 2024, he was waived by the Seahawks but was re-signed to the practice squad, showing that the organization saw value in retaining his services.
His perseverance paid off on September 21, 2024, when he was promoted to the active roster. Although his time on the active roster was brief, as he was waived on October 10 and re-signed to the practice squad, Curtis gained valuable exposure to NFL game-week preparations. His Seattle tenure reflected the journeyman reality faced by many undrafted linemen working to carve out a professional career.
Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants Era (2025)
On January 13, 2025, Curtis signed a reserve or future contract with the Arizona Cardinals, providing him with an offseason opportunity to compete for a roster spot. He worked through the Cardinals’ offseason program but was ultimately waived on August 25, 2025, as teams trimmed their rosters ahead of the regular season.
Shortly after his release, Curtis was signed to the New York Giants’ practice squad on August 29, 2025. His time with the Giants was brief, as he was released on September 8, 2025. Despite the short stint, Curtis continued to demonstrate the resilience required to navigate the uncertainties of professional football.
Las Vegas Raiders Era (2025-Present)
On October 14, 2025, Curtis signed back with the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad, returning to the organization that originally gave him his professional start. He was released on October 21 but re-signed on December 17, continuing his journey with the team that first believed in his potential as an undrafted rookie.
His second stint with the Raiders has provided Curtis with another chance to compete within an offensive system he knows well. As an offensive guard with size and college pedigree, he remains focused on earning a stable role on an NFL active roster and contributing to team success.
Driving Style and Strengths
While primarily known as an offensive guard, Curtis has shown positional flexibility by also playing offensive tackle during his college career at Chattanooga. His combination of size, technical development through the SoCon, and willingness to play multiple positions on the offensive line makes him a valuable depth piece for organizations seeking versatile interior linemen.
Notable Events and Milestones
Curtis’s career-defining moment came in 2022 when he won the Jacobs Blocking Award as the best blocker in the Southern Conference, validating years of development at Chattanooga. He also earned FCS All-American honors that same year, recognizing him among the best players at the FCS level. His invitation to the 2023 Senior Bowl marked another significant milestone, providing him with a national stage to showcase his skills ahead of the NFL draft process.
McClendon Curtis Career Wins
As an offensive lineman, McClendon Jerrell Curtis’s professional contributions are measured less by traditional win-loss statistics and more by roster achievements and individual accolades earned throughout his career. While he has notched a roster promotion and multiple practice squad stints across several NFL teams, his on-field success at the professional level continues to develop.
College Highlights
During his time at Chattanooga, Curtis earned three consecutive first-team All-Southern Conference selections in 2020, 2021, and 2022, cementing himself as one of the most consistent offensive linemen in the conference. He capped his college career by winning the prestigious Jacobs Blocking Trophy in 2022 and being named an FCS All-American, marking the peak of his collegiate accomplishments.
Other Performances
Curtis’s most notable performance outside of regular season play came in the 2023 Senior Bowl, where he competed against top senior talent from across college football. The all-star game provided him with a valuable opportunity to demonstrate his skills in front of NFL scouts and coaches.
McClendon Curtis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about McClendon Jerrell Curtis’s family background are limited. He grew up in the Chattanooga, Tennessee area, where the local football culture played a significant role in his development as a young athlete.
Personal Life
McClendon Jerrell Curtis maintains an active presence on social media, where fans can follow his journey through his verified Instagram account. His personal life beyond football remains largely private as he continues to focus on establishing his professional career in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season has been a year of transition for McClendon Jerrell Curtis as he navigated roster moves across multiple organizations. After signing a reserve or future contract with the Arizona Cardinals in January, he worked through their offseason program before being waived in late August as the team trimmed its roster ahead of the regular season.
Curtis quickly caught on with the New York Giants’ practice squad in late August, though his tenure there lasted just over a week before his release in early September. The brief stint highlighted the volatile nature of practice squad movement as teams finalize their regular season rosters.
Returning to familiar territory, Curtis signed back with the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad in mid-October 2025, reuniting with the franchise that originally signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Chattanooga. After a brief release in late October, he was re-signed in mid-December, positioning him for potential opportunities as the season progresses toward its conclusion.