Buddy Curry
Founder and Executive
Director
Buddy Curry was a University of North Carolina, four-year football letterman and ACC All-Conference performer at linebacker. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1980, and was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Buddy spent eight years with the Falcons where he was a team captain and a two time All-Pro in 1980 and 1982. Following his professional career on the field, Curry spent 9 years in Operations Management & 11 years in Sales/Fundraising experience with business organizations in North Carolina and Georgia. In 2002, Buddy founded Kids & Pros, a non-profit 501c3 corporation and character-based youth sports organization that engages retired NFL Players in their communities to teach football fundamental skills & character lessons to youth ages 7 – 13. Under Buddy’s leadership, Kids & Pros has become one of the fastest growing interactive community programs in the country using an approach that emphasizes football fundamental, position specific training, and character development. The program features week-long youth football camps and one-day clinics led by Curry and his former Falcons teammate, Bobby Butler, along with current and former NFL players who provide hands-on-teaching of skill fundamentals, as well as instruction in the character values engendered by football that are the key to success on and off the football field. The Philosophy of Kids & Pros….”to bring communities together through a series of week-long football experiences” and the Motto of Kids & Pros…”developing character and skills through athletics”, are grounded on 5 core life principals: Sportsmanship; Integrity; Excellence; Perseverance; and Teamwork. In 2013 Buddy became a Master Trainer with USA Football, the Official Youth Football Development Partner of the National Football League, where he joined some of the best high school football coaches in the nation as well as former NFL and college players. As a Master Trainer, Buddy is trained to create a new standard in football by preparing Player Safety Coaches to implement the “Heads Up Football“ program within their organizations. Under Buddy’s guidance, Kids & Pros recently received a significant grant from the Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation to share the message with youth league coaches, parents and players across Georgia and the Southeast through the Kids & Pros youth clinics, parent information sessions and coaches clinics. Buddy was also named to the Advisory Council of the National Council on Youth Sports Safety, presenting at several of the P.A.S.S. (Protecting Athletes and Sports Safety) Huddles in 2015. In September 2016, Curry took part in a House Subcommittee Briefing on Brain Safety/Concussion Awareness alongside the Childress Institute and Gfeller Center.
In January 2018, Curry and Butler reached a huge milestone — training more than 50,000 athletes since they started the organization in 2002. Buddy also enjoys coaching youth football and motivational speaking to sales groups, sports banquets, and youth groups.
Bobby Butler
Honorary Founder
Bobby Butler played Defensive Back for Florida State from 1977-80, where he starred on some of the finest defensive teams in Florida State history. He posted 11 career interceptions which ranks among FSU’s Top 10. Butler, who was a consistent starter while at FSU, was named third team AP All-American as a senior. He led an FSU defense that helped the Seminoles finish 39-8 over his career with berths in two Orange and one Tangerine Bowl. Bobby also earned All-America honors in track while at FSU, helping to lead his team to a third place finish nationally in 1980. In 1987 Bobby Butler was elected into the FSU Hall of Fame. He was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1981, Butler played 12 years in the NFL, all for the Falcons, earning the reputation of one of the top defensive backs in the league.
In 2002, Butler helped Buddy Curry launch Kids & Pros, a non-profit 501c3 corporation and character-based youth sports organization that engages retired NFL Players in their communities to teach football fundamental skills & character lessons to youth ages 7 – 13. Kids & Pros has become one of the fastest growing interactive community programs in the country using an approach that emphasizes football fundamental, position specific training, and character development. The program features week-long youth football camps and one-day clinics led by former Curry and Butler along with current and former NFL players who provide hands-on-teaching of skill fundamentals, as well as instruction in the character values engendered by football that are the key to success on and off the football field. The Philosophy of Kids & Pros….”to bring communities together through a series of week-long football experiences” and the Motto of Kids & Pros…”developing character and skills through athletics”, are grounded on 5 core life principals: Sportsmanship; Integrity; Excellence; Perseverance; and Teamwork. In January 2018, Butler and Curry reached a huge milestone — training more than 50,000 athletes since they started the organization in 2002.
Bobby continues to work closely with kids today, mentoring them both on and off the field.