Curtis Kaazim Riley Jr. (born July 18, 1992) is an

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

strong safety Safety is a position in gridiron football on the defense. The safeties are defensive backs who line up ten to fifteen yards from the line of scrimmage. There are two variations of the position: the free safety and the strong safety. Their dut ...

who is a free agent. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

Fresno State California State University, Fresno (Fresno State) is a public university in Fresno, California. It is one of 23 campuses in the California State University system. The university had a fall 2020 enrollment of 25,341 students. It offers bachelo ...

. He previously played for the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. Founded in , the Steel ...

Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raide ...

New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their h ...

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) West division, and play t ...

, and

Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the National Football Conference (NFC) North division. Founded in 1960 as an expansion ...

Professional career

Tennessee Titans

Riley went undrafted in the

2015 NFL Draft The 2015 NFL Draft was the 80th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible football players. It took place in Chicago at the Auditorium Theatre and in Grant Park, from April 30 to May 2. The previous ...

. On May 4, 2015, the

signed Riley to a three-year, $1.58 million

contract A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...

that includes a

signing bonus A signing bonus or sign-on bonus is a sum of money paid to a new employee (including a professional sports person) by a company as an incentive to join that company. They are often given as a way of making a compensation package more attractive ...

of $12,000.

2015

Throughout training camp, Riley competed for a roster spot as a backup cornerback and special teams player against Khalid Wooten,

Marqueston Huff Marqueston Devonte Huff (born April 6, 1992), also known by his nickname "Quest", is a former American football safety. He played college football at Wyoming and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He ...

Cody Riggs Cody Tyler Riggs (born December 30, 1991) is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Florida and Notre Dame. High school career Riggs attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was p ...

, Jemea Thomas, and Ri'Shard Anderson. On August 10, 2015, the Titans waived Riley after he injured his ankle while making an interception during practice. He reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers. On November 3, 2015, the Titans fired head coach

Ken Whisenhunt Kenneth Moore Whisenhunt (born February 28, 1962) is an American football coach and former tight end who is currently an offensive analyst for Penn State. He played college football at Georgia Tech and was drafted in the twelfth round of the 198 ...

after they fell to a 1–6 record and promoted assistant head coach/tight ends coach

Mike Mularkey Michael Rene Mularkey (born November 19, 1961) is a former American football coach and tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1983 NF ...

to interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

2016

Riley entered training camp as a backup cornerback and competed for a roster spot against B. W. Webb,

Valentino Blake Valentino Antwon Blake (born August 9, 1990) is a former American football cornerback and special teamer. He was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans ...

, Kalan Reed, Bennett Okotcha,

, and Josh Aubrey. On September 2, 2016, the Titans officially waived Riley as part of their final roster cuts, but signed him to their practice squad the following day. On September 22, 2016, the Titans promoted Riley to their active roster. On October 9, 2016, Riley made his professional regular season debut in the Titans' 30–17 victory at the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team pla ...

in Week 3. Riley was inactive as a healthy scratch for eight of the next 11 games (Weeks 6–7, 10–11, and 14–17).

2017

Riley competed for a roster spot as a backup safety against

Brynden Trawick Brynden George Trawick (born October 23, 1989) is a former American football safety. He played college football at Troy. Early life Trawick was born on October 23, 1989 in Marietta, Georgia. He attended Sprayberry High School in Marietta and wa ...

Da'Norris Searcy Da'Norris Searcy (born November 16, 1988) is a former American football safety. He played college football for the University of North Carolina Tar Heels and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He curr ...

, and Denzel Johnson. Head coach Mike Mularkey named Riley the backup free safety to start the season, behind

Kevin Byard Kevin Leon Byard Jr. (born August 17, 1993) is an American football free safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee. Byard was drafted by the Titans in the third round of ...

. Riley was inactive for the Titans' season-opening loss to the

. On September 17, 2017, Riley made one solo tackle, broke up a pass, and made his first career interception off a pass by quarterback

Blake Bortles Robby Blake Bortles (born April 28, 1992) is a former American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on ...

in the second half of a 37–16 victory at the

Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division. The team play ...

in Week 2. The interception helped set up the Titans on an eventual field goal scoring drive to close out the first half. In Week 4, he collected a season-high four solo tackles during a 57–14 loss at the

Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division, and play their home ga ...

. Riley was inactive for eight of the next nine games (Week 9–15). He finished the season with 12 combined tackles (eight solo), two pass deflections, and one interception in four games and zero starts.

New York Giants

On March 16, 2018, the

signed Riley to a one-year, $630,000 contract. Riley was reunited with Giants assistant defensive backs coach

Deshea Townsend Trevor Deshea Townsend (born September 8, 1975) is an American football coach and former cornerback who is the passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He previously serv ...

, who had previously held the same position with the Titans. Riley started training camp as a cornerback and competed against Donte Deayon for a roster spot as the first-team nickelback, but was moved to safety after

Darian Thompson Darian Thompson (born September 22, 1993) is a former American football safety who is currently an assistant linebackers coach and quality control coach for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Boise State University, and was selecte ...

suffered a hamstring injury. He competed to be the starting free safety against Thompson, Andrew Adams,

Michael Thomas Michael or Mike Thomas may refer to: Entertainment * Michael M. Thomas (born 1936), American novelist of financial thrillers * Michael Tilson Thomas (born 1944), American conductor, pianist, and composer * Michael Thomas (actor) (1952–2019), Bri ...

, and William Gay. Head coach Pat Shurmur named Riley the starting free safety to begin the regular season. He started alongside strong safety

Landon Collins Landon Alexander Collins (born January 10, 1994) is an American football safety and linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, where he was a part of the team that won the 20 ...

and cornerbacks

Janoris Jenkins Janoris Jermain Jenkins (born October 29, 1988), nicknamed "Jackrabbit", is an American football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Alabama and Florida and was draft ...

and

Eli Apple Eli Apple (né Woodard, born August 9, 1995) is an American football cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Ohio State Buckeyes football, Ohio State, where he was a part of the ...

. He made his first career start in the Giants' season-opener against the

and recorded six combined tackles in their 20–15 loss. On October 7, 2018, Riley recorded three solo tackles, deflected a pass, and intercepted a pass by quarterback

Cam Newton Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He has played for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Super Cam", he is the NFL ...

during a 33–31 loss at the

Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. T ...

in Week 5. On December 9 against the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) N ...

, he scored his first NFL touchdown after intercepting a pass from

Mark Sanchez Mark Travis John Sanchez (born November 11, 1986) is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 10 seasons. He played college football at the University of Southern California (USC) and was draft ...

Oakland Raiders

On March 22, 2019, Riley signed a one-year deal worth $810,000 with the

Pittsburgh Steelers

On August 3, 2020, Riley signed a one-year deal with the

. He was released on September 6, 2020, and re-signed to the practice squad.

Arizona Cardinals

On September 17, 2020, the

signed Riley to their active roster off of the Steelers' practice squad after Arizona's starting safety

Jalen Thompson Jalen Thompson (born July 18, 1998) is an American football safety for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington State. Early life and high school Thompson was born in Compton, Cali ...

suffered an injury in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve. He was released on October 6, 2020, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was elevated to the active roster on October 10 for the team's week 5 game against the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The J ...

, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.

Minnesota Vikings

On October 30, 2020, the

signed Riley to their active roster off the Cardinals' practice squad. Riley was waived on December 12, 2020, and re-signed to the practice squad three days later. His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 11, 2021.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On May 17, 2021, Riley signed with the

Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South divisio ...

. On July 22, he was waived/injured and placed on injured reserve.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, Curtis 1992 births Living people People from White Plains, New York Players of American football from New York (state) Sportspeople from Westchester County, New York University High School (Orlando, Florida) alumni American football defensive backs Fresno State Bulldogs football players Tennessee Titans players New York Giants players Oakland Raiders players Pittsburgh Steelers players Arizona Cardinals players Minnesota Vikings players Tampa Bay Buccaneers players