|
With his
eleven-year career
in the NFL, Todd
Christensen
established himself
as one of the most
prolific tight ends
in league history.
At 6-3, 230 pounds,
he was known as a
sure-handed receiver
with the ability to
get open and make
catches in heavy
traffic. The Oregon
Native first starred
at Eugene’s Sheldon
High School where he
made the All-State
team as both a
running back and a
defensive Lineman.
Christensen then
went to Brigham
Young University
where he was a
four-year starter at
running back. But
playing in the
wide-open BYU
offense, it was as a
receiver where he
made his mark.
Christensen led the
Cougars in receiving
fro three straight
years and helped the
team win their
league championship
in three of his four
hyears at the
school. He also was
the Most Valuable
Player of the 1977
Blue-Gray Classic
catching 10 passes
in the college
all-star game.
Christensen was
chosen by the Dallas
Cowboys in the 1978
NFL Draft but was
cut before playing a
game with the team.
He then played one
game with the new
York Giants before
embarking on aj
storied ten-year
career with the
Oakland/Los Angeles
Raiders. With the
Silver and Black,
Christensen was a
five-time All-Pro
and member of two
Super Bowl Champion
squads. His greatest
years came from
1983-86 when he
twice led the NFL in
receptions and set a
then league record
for tight ends of 95
catches in 1986.
Called “The
Renaissance Man”
during his playing
days with the
Raiders, Christensen
has certainly lived
up to that billing.
After his NFL
retirement,
Christensen took his
talents to the
broadcast booth
working as an
analyst for both
college and pro
football games. He
was an on-field
reporter at tow
super Bowls and
broadcast from the
1992 Summer Olympic
Games in Carcelona.
A sought-after
speaker, he is
President of a
non-profit
organization called
Athletes for Youth
that provides
activities and
financial aid to Los
Angeles inner-city
youth. Christensen
is also an
accomplished opera
singer and has
written three books
of self-published
poetry.
|