Kevin Curtis

November 26 has always been circled in Kevin Curtis’ life. It was the day he learned, early on, what showing up looks like. Recently, it became the day everything aligned.

On his father’s birthday, Curtis watched a lifelong dream take shape. It was the reward for years of discipline, belief, and quiet repetition. The same values that built his football foundation carried him to this moment, instilled by a man whose calendar never missed a workday and whose presence never wavered.

“My father was always my biggest influence,” Curtis said. “He’s military, retired after 20-plus years. He woke up early, went to work, and I don’t remember him ever missing a day. We were in church on Sundays and Wednesdays. That was my life: church, school, sports. Having him there every step of the way, that was everything.”

After a six-year NFL career and 17 more in coaching, Curtis is now the owner of seven Orangetheory Fitness studios in the Phoenix region. Football gave him structure. His father gave him purpose. And when the question shifted from how to play to what came next, The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA) helped him translate those lessons into a new arena.

Through The Trust, Curtis began developing the business and leadership skills that now define his life after football, forming a bridge between the locker room and the boardroom. Long before he and his wife, Kayla, purchased seven studios, Curtis was attending Trust-led business workshops, connecting with other former players, and building a network that became especially vital once his coaching career ended.

He still returns to the notebook from those early sessions, pulling ideas that continue to shape how he operates his business.

Curtis attended a Trust-organized business workshop during Super Bowl week, where sessions on marketing, digital strategy, and social media provided a foundation he now applies as a multi-unit franchise owner.

More than inspiration, The Trust provided Curtis with practical tools, leadership exposure, and a network of former players, resources he continues to rely on as he builds his life beyond the game.

That same discipline and faith passed down from his father guided Curtis through career-ending injuries, 90-hour coaching weeks, and ultimately the courage to walk away and take a risk. Buying seven studios brought a new level of complexity.

The operational and administrative demands multiplied. Curtis and his wife had to demonstrate to the bank that they were the right fit to run the business, assembling extensive information about themselves and the operation. The process brought increased paperwork and a growing web of moving parts, from sorting through financials to coordinating deal documentation.

“In the middle of acquiring the business, we had a government shutdown,” Curtis said. “We missed the deadline and had to sit around for basically a month and a half. But my faith and keeping great communication with the seller helped us work it out. You’re learning on the run. But as a former athlete, I think we’re prepared. We can all do something special.”

According to Curtis, the work has paid off because Orangetheory has changed lives. He shared stories of members in their 60s now able to lift their grandkids without pain and others who have lost more than 100 pounds through the structured workouts. Orangetheory provides a data-driven, one-hour training environment that gives everyday people what athletes have long relied on: coaching, accountability, and a team.

“I burn on average probably 800 to 900 calories in that hour,” Curtis said. “We all want a better quality of life, especially as Black men dealing with heart disease or diabetes. Being able to control your weight and keep moving — I see it working for so many people, and it’s working for me.”

This chapter is the latest in a decorated life. A two-time All-American and three-time All-Big 12 safety, Curtis was inducted into the Texas Tech Hall of Fame in 2022. He was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by San Francisco, spent time with the 49ers, Packers, Raiders, and Texans, and later coached at Texas Tech, Louisiana Tech, SMU, and Baylor.

He also played in NFL Europe for the Cologne Centurions where he had six interceptions and 96 tackles over two years. Even with the accomplishments, Curtis believes the real highlights happened away from television cameras. The relationships are the legacy.

Curtis’ story is proof that athletes are built for bold moves — if they’re willing to pivot.

“You’re never too old to start a new path,” Curtis said. “I was 45. I coached college football for 17 years, and I made a career switch. If you’re feeling something, go for it. Jump into it. Keep the faith. Know that God has a perfect plan.”

Rob Knox wrote this article for The Trust. Knox is an award-winning professional, a member of the Lincoln (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame, and adjunct instructor at Temple University. In addition to having work published in SLAM magazine, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Washington Post, and Diverse Issues In Higher Education, Knox enjoyed a distinguished career as an athletics communicator for Lincoln, Kutztown, Coppin State, Towson, and UNC Greensboro. He also worked at ESPN and for the Delaware County Daily Times. Recently, Knox was honored by College Sports Communicators with the Mary Jo Haverbeck Trailblazer Award and by the NCAA with its Champion of Diversity award. Named an HBCU Legend by SI.com, Knox is a graduate of Lincoln University and a past president of the College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA.