Coach LaVell Edwards said of Todd Christensen, "Todd is first and foremost a great player. He is intelligent, loyal, a tough competitor - and he has a great mental attitude toward the game. He knew all the offensive positions very well and could have played any one of them." Versatility has, in fact, been a Christensen trademark.

Before entering the college ranks, Todd received several offers from universities to play tight end or linebacker. When BYU offered him the chance to play running back, he immediately donned blue and white.

The 6-2, 215-pound fullback from Eugene, Oregon, did more than run, leading the Cougars for three straight years in pass receiving. He played on four Western Athletic Conference Championship teams and was named first-team All-WAC in 1977. He closed his college career earning Most Valuable Player honors at the Blue-Gray All-Star Classic.

In 1978 Todd was a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys. But after suffering a broken foot in the final exhibition game that season, he was released.

Todd found a home with the L.A. Raiders, but he didn't emerge as a household name until 1982. Following those years of anonymity, one sportswriter quipped, "Christensen was best known for being the answer to a trivia question: Which pro player has scored a safety, caught a touchdown pass, recovered a fumble, returned a kickoff and punt, and run from scrimmage? Now, he's simply known as one of the best tight ends in football."

Todd led the NFL in receptions in 1983 with 92 catches, more than any other tight end in a single season. Leading the Raiders in receptions from 1982 to 1986, he was a secondary's worst nightmare and a consensus All-Pro pick for four years.

Todd was a special teams captain on the 1981 team that defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10 in Super Bowl XV. The one-two punch of Christensen and Marcus Allen led the Raiders to another Super Bowl victory in 1983.

In 1987 Todd played in his fifth and last Pro Bowl game. He retired as number three on the Raiders' all-time pass-receiving and yardage-gained list.

As well known for his wit and intelligence as for his football prowess, Todd once quoted the late Walt Kelly: "Too soon we breast the tape, and too late we find the fun was in the running."

He may have retired #46, but Todd remains close to the game he loves as a regular color announcer for NBC Sports.