Todd Christensen: He Could Catch The Rock

By John Turney

Quick, what receiver had the best hands in the 1980s? 

Jerry Rice? In his first year or two he had an issue with dropped passes, so maybe not. How about Cris Carter? OK, but because he came along late in the decade he's more of a 1990s' answer. What about Steve Largent? No question, he'd have a strong case. Anyone else? Yes.  But he wasn't a wide receiver. 

He was Raiders' tight end Todd Christensen, a guy who "could catch the rock," according to teammate Lyle Alzado.

Ranking the best hands, of course, is subjective. But no matter what the answer may be, Todd Christensen is in the conversation. However, it's another conversation that interests me, and that's his worthiness as a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

So far, he really hasn't been. Yes, he's been on preliminary lists, but he's never made it as a modern-era or seniors' semifinalist ... and that should change because his case for Canton is strong.

He was a two-time consensus All-Pro voted to five Pro Bowls -- and that was when Hall-of-Famers Kellen Winslow and Ozzie Newsome were in the AFC, which may explain why Christensen didn't make the 1980s' all-decade team. But he was a major part of the Raiders' offense in the 1980s -- arguably THE focus of the offense, which is saying something on a team with Hall-of-Fame running back Marcus Allen. 

Simply put, Todd Christensen was an elite tight end.

But not at the beginning, he wasn't. A lot was expected of him when the Dallas Cowboys chose him in the second round of the 1978 draft. He'd been a fullback at Brigham Young University who specialized in catches passes and hitting the weights, earning him the nickname of "Toddzilla" for his athletic prowess. 

He first dazzled Cowboys' coaches and teammates by breaking rookie records for weight-lifting, including a 430-pound bench press. But it was his hands that impressed them most -- so much so that they wanted to move him to tight end.

"A lot of receivers catch all the good passes," said former Cowboys' executive and Hall-of-Famer Gil Brandt. "This guy catches those, plus all the bad ones."

But there was a hitch: The stubborn Christensen resisted the change. So, after breaking his foot as a rookie, he was cut loose in 1979. Claimed by the Giants, he played just one game before he was released and signed by the Oakland Raiders ... and the rest you know. 

Christensen's future as an NFL tight end was solidified. 

At first, he starred on special teams. He'd force and recover fumbles, even returning one for a touchdown. He'd block kicks and even long snap, too. But by 1981 he was starting to catch passes, and in 1982 he was the Raiders' starting tight end.

Though small for his position (he was 6-feet-3, 230 pounds) he was effective, catching 438 passes from 1982-87. That figure was more than anyone in the NFL, and it wasn't close. The next highest total belonged to Hall-of-Famer Art Monk with 390.

He also led the NFL in receptions twice during that span with 92 in 1983 and 95 in 1986. When Christensen retired after the 1988 season, those were two of the top seven receiving seasons in league history -- for any position. Wide receiver, running back or tight end. Furthermore, to this day those two seasons rank in the top 25 among tight ends in NFL history.

As Alzado said, Todd Christensen could catch the rock.

Though the Al Davis philosophy was predicated on a vertical passing game, the Raiders still needed someone to work underneath and the middle of the field. And that is how Christensen proved his value, with scouts in Pro Preview magazine marveling at Christensen's ability to gain yards after the catch:

--- "(B)usting through linebackers and safeties after the catch," said one. 

--- "(G)reat hand-eye coordination and terrific in traffic," said another. "His play is never over ... he works off the linebackers as well as any tight end in the history of the league."

--- "One of the best I ever played with", said James Lofton, even though they were together for only two seasons.

Christensen was also one of the best interviews, a favorite of writers covering the team. He was smart, and he was clever -- one of the reasons NBC, ESPN and CBS, among others, hired him as an analyst after he retired. But he was so outspoken that he could annoy teammates like Howie Long and Alzado, who nevertheless tolerated him because ... well, because he could catch the rock.

"He was my go-to guy in so many instances, especially around the goal line," said quarterback Jim Plunkett. "He was a guy who could catch the ball no matter where it was thrown, and he really produced when he was playing for the Raiders."

Exactly.

When he caught "the rock" 92 times In 1983, 12 of them went for touchdowns, tying Mike Ditka and Jerry Smith for the NFL single-season high by a tight end. Through the 2023 season, it's still tied for 6th most. That year his receiving yardage total was 1,247 -- second only then to Winslow for most in one season. And now? Now it ranks as tenth best for a tight end. 

That was the season when Christensen earned his second Super Bowl ring -- this one a 38-9 drubbing of Washington in Super Bowl XVIII -- and consider that another box checked for Canton. Voters like candidates with jewelry. 

But there's more. 

They should consider that Christensen's five Pro Bowls are as many as Hall-of-Fame tight ends Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Kellen Winslow, Dave Casper and, Jackie Smith. They're also as many as Hall-of-Fame likely Rob Gronkowski and two more than Ozzie Newsome's three Pro Bowls.

Further, "Toddzilla" was first-or second-team All-Pro four times, tied with Casper and Winslow and only one less than Shannon Sharpe, Antonio Gates and Gronk. In all, Christensen played 10 years and in 137 games, with 461 receptions for 5,872 yards and 41 TDs.

I told you, it's a strong case.

Todd Christensen had hands as sure as anyone who played the game. He has two Super Bowl rings. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro. Plus, he put up receiving numbers that would make him an All-Pro today.

Put it all together, and Christensen should have been in a Hall conversation long ago as a modern-era player. But that ship has sailed.  His fate now is in the hands of the seniors' committee, and, hopefully, it can catch the rock and make his case heard.  

His achievements warrant it.