Curtis family cousins help lead John Curtis on deep playoff run in final season together (2025)

Jason and Jeffrey Curtis are cousins who have been around the John Curtis football program for as long as they can remember.

Their fathers are assistant coaches at the school. Their grandfather is J.T. Curtis, the head football coach since 1969.

But seldom have two members from the family played such a crucial role in the team’s on-field success at the same time.

With Jason and Jeffrey as starters on defense, No. 19 John Curtis (7-5) will face No. 2 Alexandria (12-0) in an LHSAA Division I select state semifinal set for Friday.

“This is my last time being able to play with my family,” said Jason, a senior whose father Johnny coaches special teams and is the athletic director. “It’s a crazy to think of when you’ve been playing tackle football with him your whole life.”

Jeffrey, a junior, plays middle linebacker. His 103 tackles are the second most on the team. He has 13 tackles for loss. Jason, a strong safety, is fourth in tackles with 75.

Their first varsity season came two years ago. The season ended with John Curtis defeating Brother Martin for the state championship. Jason ended that game with six tackles. Jeffrey recovered a fumble.

Before then, they spent many Friday nights together as ball boys and equipment managers on the John Curtis sideline.

“It’s pretty special,” said Jeffrey, whose father Jeff is the offensive coordinator and head baseball coach. “We’ve been playing backyard football ever since I can remember. Coach J.T. can testify to it, playing in his living room (after family dinners) every Wednesday night growing up.”

This is the 10th season the pair has played tackle football together. Their time together has created an unspoken bond. That showed in their first-round playoff win, also against Brother Martin.

With Jason and Jeffrey positioned near each other in the fourth quarter, Jason could see from the way Jeffrey looked in his direction that he wanted to blitz. And before Jeffrey could say a word, Jason said, “Don’t worry, I got your back. Go for it.”

“That turned out to be the play where the (Brother Martin) tackle got nervous,” Jason said, “and he let (John Curtis defensive end Lane Lecron) go around the end and hit the ball.”

The play resulted in a loss of 8 yards for Brother Martin, and “it was a really big play because that was a momentum changer right there,” Jason recalled from the game Curtis won 21-13.

The Curtis family has put several boys on the playing field. At one point, six of them were on the roster at the same time.

Preston, Matt and Steve— each a son to Leon Curtis, J.T.’s brother— were in the high school program together in the 1990s at the same time as Lance Rickner, Robby Eutsler and Paul Naccari— each a son to J.T. and Leon’s three sisters.

Some of those cousins met with Jason and Jeffrey before the season to tell them they should savor this final season together.

“My uncle Jeff called all of us in there,” Jason said. “He explained how special it was to watch them and be a part of them all growing up together and playing for my grandpa. And how he thought that we needed to take those moments in now and play for each other as long as we can.”

Preston Curtis, the high school assistant principal, said he and Lance Rickner, the junior high principal, have a photo in their offices from when they all played football together.

They spoke with Jason and Jeffrey to remind them of the importance of enjoying the journey as they neared the end of their time together.

“These moments are fleeting,” Preston said. “Don’t leave any stone unturned. Cherish every moment— good, bad or ugly.”

One special moment came two weeks ago in a second-round playoff win at Acadiana. The offense was on the field as Jason and Jeffrey watched from the sideline. Acadiana led by five points with 16 seconds remaining.

Senior quarterback Reggie Johnson took the snap and dropped back. He looked to the left and lofted a 21-yard pass toward the goal line. Freshman receiver Jarvis Stevenson reached over the defender and made the catch. He stepped into the end zone for the winning touchdown.

“As soon as that touchdown is scored,” Jason said, “I turned and gave him a big hug and he said, ‘I get one more week with you! I get one more week with you!’

“My uncle Jeff came sprinting down the field. He slid on the ground, and he said, ‘We get one more week together!’ ”

One more week has turned into two. Last week, a decisive victory at Teurlings Catholic advanced John Curtis to the state semifinals.

This week, undefeated Alexandria will be a challenging opponent with LSU signee J.T. Lindsey at running back. He has run for more than 2,100 yards and 31 touchdowns.

Jason and Jeffrey soon will play their final football game together, either this week or in the state championship next week at the Caesars Superdome.

“He’s so smart about what we need to do,” Jeffrey said about Jason. “He controls the secondary. I like to control the box and stuff. Just communicating back and forth and what we need to do and how to execute is really fun.”

Something that has always felt special, Jason said, was that whenever Jeffrey made a big play, "I love being right there to celebrate with him."

"My family just did something great," Jason said. "It's a cool moment."