21 Facts About Todd Christensen

Todd Christensen's father was working on a doctoral degree at Pennsylvania State University at that time.

Todd Christensen was selected in the 1974 Major League Baseball draft, but he elected to play football at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

At BYU, Todd Christensen was a four-year starter for the Cougars at fullback, led the team for three consecutive seasons in receiving and was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection as a senior in 1977.

Todd Christensen graduated with a degree in social work in 1978 before embarking on his pro career.

Todd Christensen was selected in the second-round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys.

Todd Christensen was claimed off waivers by the New York Giants but only played in one game and lasted two weeks with the team, before being released to make room for wide receiver Dwight Scales.

Todd Christensen's eccentricities helped him fit in with the Raiders, even if he wasn't tailored to the renegade mold.

Todd Christensen finally agreed to play the tight end position and after three seasons of unspectacular statistics, Christensen broke out in 1982, catching 42 passes for 510 yards and four touchdowns during the strike-shortened season, helping the Raiders tie the Washington Redskins for the best record in the NFL.

The next year, Todd Christensen caught 92 passes for a career-high 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns and earned the first of his five trips to the Pro Bowl for his efforts.

Todd Christensen topped 1,000 yards again in 1984, catching 82 passes in the process.

Todd Christensen hit 80 receptions again the following year, missing 1,000 yards by just 13 yards.

Todd Christensen ended the year with a career-high, league-leading 95 receptions for 1,153 yards and eight touchdowns.

Todd Christensen became the first tight end in history to catch 90 passes in each of two seasons.

Todd Christensen only caught 15 passes, with none going for touchdowns, and then he retired from pro football.

Todd Christensen led the league in receptions twice, and his 349 receptions from 1983 through 86 was an NFL record.

Todd Christensen became a broadcaster, co-hosting the second half of the first season of American Gladiators with Mike Adamle.

Todd Christensen later joined the NFL on NBC as a color commentator from 1990 to 1994, teaming up with Charlie Jones for the first four years and, had Greg Gumbel stayed in CBS, he would have teamed up with Drew Goodman instead of Jim Lampley in 1994.

Todd Christensen did color commentary for ESPN's college football coverage before moving to MountainWest Sports Network.

Todd Christensen was announced as the new analyst for CBS Sports Network Navy games in August 2012.

Todd Christensen died at age 57 on November 13,2013, from complications during liver transplant surgery at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, near his home in Alpine.

Todd Christensen had battled liver disease and related illnesses for about two years, though his son, Toby, said his liver issues began with a "botched" gallbladder surgery 25 years earlier.