Pat Curran is an American former professional football tight end. Curran played for the National Football League (NFL)'s Los Angeles Rams and San Diego Chargers between 1969 and 1978. In 1969, Pat Summerall while announcing the syndicated NFL Films series This Week in Pro Football dubbed Curran "the meanest man in the NFL" due to Curran's penchant for "spearing" opponents; flying head first and using his helmet to brutally strike into their mid-sections, a type of blocking and tackling technique or maneuver that has since been outlawed in the league.