Michigan State University Athletics
Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 2026
- Class:
- 1957
Dan Currie
Football (1955-57)
Detroit, Mich.
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· 1957 Consensus First Team All-American
· Two-time All-Big Ten, including First Team honors in 1957
· Starter for 1955 and 1957 National Championship teams
· 1957 Team MVP
· Finished 8th in 1957 Heisman Trophy Voting
· No. 3 overall pick in the 1958 NFL Draft
· Member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame
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Dan Currie, who passed away at the age of 82 in 2017, takes his place among the all-time Spartan greats posthumously as part of the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
A three-year letterwinner for the Spartans (1955-57) under Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty, Currie helped lead the Spartans to National Championships in 1955 and 1957 and earned consensus first-team All-America honors as a center while being named the team’s MVP in 1957.
“Just excited and grateful,” said Tom Currie, who is the second oldest of six children in the family, upon hearing the news that his father had been named to the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame. “I’m amazed by the MSU Athletics staff for taking the time and effort to look back and honor some older players that maybe have fallen off the radar.”
Currie was a three-year starter on the offensive line, playing guard as a sophomore (235 minutes) and junior (272 minutes) before playing center his senior season.
During his first season earning a letter, Currie helped the Spartans to a win in the 1956 Rose Bowl over UCLA as MSU went 9-1 overall and finished No. 2 in the national polls (AP, UPI). The Spartans were also selected National Champions by Boand. He was one of four sophomores on the Spartans to start in the 1956 Rose Bowl Game and played 56 minutes in the victory over the Bruins, more than any other Spartan in the game, and also recorded an interception.
As a junior in 1956, Currie was named second-team All-Big Ten as a guard as the Spartans closed the season ranked No. 9 by AP and No. 10 by UPI with a 7-2 record.
Currie earned first-team All-America honors his senior year at center in 1957 as selected by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association, International News Service, Football Coaches Association and NBC. He was also named recipient of the Governor’s Award, which is annually awarded to the team’s most valuable player, and was a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection.Â
A stalwart performer on both sides of the ball, logging a total of 284 minutes, Currie’s blocking helped the Spartans to a No. 1 ranking in the Big Ten in both total offense and scoring in 1957. Defensively, he was the catalyst from his linebacker post of a group that stood No. 1 in the league in rushing defense and total defense, and led the team with three interceptions. He was also a defensive captain.
The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 3 in the final Associated Press and United Press International polls with an 8-1 record (5-1 Big Ten) and were crowned National Champions by Dunkel. Currie finished eighth in the 1957 Heisman Trophy voting, a testament to his impact on the Spartans that season. He even finished just one point shy of being named the Big Ten Player of the Year.
Former MSU Hall of Fame Coach Duffy Daugherty said in 1957 that Currie was “the finest center in collegiate football and perhaps the best ever at Michigan State.” Daugherty also commented that he would not trade Currie for any other linebacker in the country.
“My father always talked about Duffy,” said Tom. “I think Duffy meant a lot to my dad – even a little more than just his coach, sort of like a father figure on campus. I remember that. My dad was pretty close with George Perles too. Most of my Michigan State memories were my dad talking about his teammates and the coaching staff.”
Following his All-America senior season, Currie appeared in the North-South All-Star Game and also the College All-Star Game on Aug. 15, 1958, in Chicago, as the college all-stars defeated the 1957 pro champion Detroit Lions, 35-19. He was also selected for the Senior Bowl and Hula Bowl all-star games.Â
Currie was chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft by Green Bay (No. 3 overall) in 1958. He earned first-team NFL All-Pro honors three times at linebacker (1961-63) during a seven-year stint with the Packers (1958-64) and was a member of two NFL Championship teams (1961, 1962) under legendary coach Vince Lombardi. He also played in the Pro Bowl in 1960.
Currie had a 30-yard interception return in the 1962 NFL Championship Game as the Packers defeated the New York Giants, 16-7, in Yankee Stadium. He also started at linebacker in Green Bay’s 37-0 shutout over the Giants in the 1961 NFL Championship Game. Prior to the 1961 NFL Championship game, he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated (Dec. 18, 1961).
Tom said that when his father played for the Packers that the family would live in Green Bay for three months out of the year during football season, then move back to Metro Detroit the rest of the year.
Currie finished his nine-year pro career with the Los Angeles Rams (1965-66).
As part of the observance of the 75th anniversary of the Big Ten in 1970, each school named an all-time team, followed by an all-time Big Ten team. Currie was voted to the all-time Spartan team and also earned honorable mention for the all-time Big Ten squad.
A native of Detroit who attended St. Anthony High School, Currie was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1984.Â
“One thing I’ve thought about is how proud my grandparents (Dan’s parents, Arthur and Bernice) would be about this honor,” said Tom. “Their three sons that grew up were all very good athletes. My dad’s older brother (Walter Miles Currie) was a standout football player at U of D (University of Detroit Mercy). And his younger brother (Michael Currie) lettered at Michigan State in the early 60s. My grandparents would be really proud. I know my grandfather, when his sons were in their athletic primes, he took a lot of pride in that, it was such a big thing for him. So I think a lot about them with this honor.”
