After graduation from College Park High School, Bill received a football scholarship to Georgia Tech, where he lettered for three seasons at center for Coach Bobby Dodd. In 1964, he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, playing for legendary coach Vince Lombardi. Curry was an integral part of the team that won the 1965 NFL Championship and Super Bowl I in 1966. He was traded to the Baltimore Colts in 1967 where he played for Hall of Fame Coach, Don Shula. Under Shula, Curry played in Super Bowls III and V and was named to the All-Pro Team in 1971 and 1972. After playing briefly with the Houston Oilers and the Los Angeles Rams, Curry’s ten-year NFL career ended in 1975 when a knee injury forced him to retire.

Curry began his coaching career at Georgia Tech as an assistant coach. After a three-year stint as Offensive Line Coach with the Green Bay Packers, under coach Bart Starr, he returned to Georgia Tech in 1980 as Head Coach. While at Georgia Tech, Curry led his team to an All-American Bowl victory and was named the "ACC Coach of the Year" in 1985.

In 1987, Curry agreed to serve as Head Coach at the University of Alabama. In his three seasons coaching the Crimson Tide, he posted a record of 26-10, including one SEC Championship and three bowl appearances. His 1989 squad shared the Southeastern Conference title, and Coach Curry received the "Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year Award." Curry was further honored when the Associated Press named him as the 1990 "SEC Coach of the Year."

In 1990, Curry left Alabama to serve as Head Coach for the University of Kentucky Wildcats. During his seven years coaching Kentucky, he compiled a record of 23-51, including a 1993 Peach Bowl appearance - his first bowl game in nine years. Academically, Curry’s Wildcat football teams set the pace among SEC schools and led the SEC numerous times in academic all-SEC honor roll.

In 1997, Curry embarked on his broadcasting career when he joined ESPN as a college football analyst for the Big Ten Game of the Week. Since then he has been on the air each week of the football season, highlighting the most exciting events in college football.

Bill has also earned a reputation as one of the most inspiring motivational speakers in America. He combines a humorous, dynamic delivery with a commanding presence. Employing the principles of motivation learned from his prominent mentors, Curry understands how to inspire and challenge others. Drawing from the lessons he learned from these great performers, as well as from his own personal experiences, he emphasizes that the road to success is not without its valleys. Bill powerfully expresses the necessity of rising from defeat again and again, turning failure and adversity into an opportunity for growth and success.

In September 2006, the American Football Coaches Association announced that Bill was the recipient of the 2007 Amos Alonzo Stagg Award in honor of his outstanding service toward the advancement of the best interests of football.