Cole Christiansen
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Cole Christiansen
| image = Cole Christiansen (48854848588) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Christiansen with Army in 2019
| current_team = Kansas City Chiefs
| number = 48
| position = Linebacker
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|7|30}}
| birth_place = Suffolk, Virginia, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lb = 230
| high_school = Nansemond-Suffolk Academy
| college = Army (2016–2019)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| pastteams =
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})
- Kansas City Chiefs ({{NFL Year|2022}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- 2x Super Bowl champion (LVII, LVIII)
| statleague =
| statseason = 2024
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Total tackles
| statvalue1 = 6
| statlabel2 =
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 =
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = ChriCo00
}}
Cole Jennings Christiansen (born July 30, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Army Black Knights.
Early life
Christiansen grew up on a horse farm in Suffolk, Virginia, and attended Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, where he played football and lacrosse. He was named the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year and the Tidewater Conference Player of the Year as a junior and as a senior.{{cite web|url=https://www.pilotonline.com/sports/college/article_08dff445-0d91-5ef0-a97e-8c58383cf415.html|title=Former Nansemond-Suffolk star Cole Christiansen thriving at Army|work=The Virginian-Pilot|date=August 20, 2019|access-date=September 14, 2021}}
College career
Christiansen played for the Army Black Knights for four seasons. He became a starter in his sophomore season and finished second on the team with 84 tackles and was named a team captain going into his junior year.{{Cite web |last=Frankenberry |first=Jami |date=April 18, 2018 |title=Nansemond-Suffolk Academy grad earns rare honor for a sophomore. He's an Army football captain. |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/757teamz/football/article_03aea2ea-430c-11e8-bf3f-fbba6a5e90c9.html |access-date=June 1, 2021 |website=The Virginian-Pilot}} Christiansen finished second in tackles again as a junior with 77 while also leading the team with 12 tackles for loss.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Niqko |date=April 23, 2019 |title=Christiansen earns second stint as captain |url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2019/04/23/christiansen-earns-second-stint-as-captain/ |access-date=June 1, 2021 |website=Suffolk News-Herald}} As a senior, he led the Black Knights with 112 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Niqko |date=January 23, 2020 |title=Christiansen takes advantage of NFLPA experience |url=https://www.suffolknewsherald.com/2020/01/23/christiansen-takes-advantage-of-nflpa-experience/ |access-date=June 1, 2021 |website=Suffolk News-Herald}} Christiansen finished his collegiate career with 275 tackles.{{cite web|url=http://collegiate.nflpa.com/2020/01/13/nflpa-collegiate-bowl-player-spotlight-army-lb-cole-christiansen/|title=NFLPA COLLEGIATE BOWL PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Army LB Cole Christiansen|website=Collegiate.NFLPA.com|date=January 13, 2020|access-date=June 1, 2021}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 0 3/4
| weight = 230
| arm span = 31 1/2
| hand span = 9 7/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017296&DraftYear=2020 |title=Cole Christiansen College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=November 30, 2024}}
}}
=Los Angeles Chargers=
Christiansen signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020, after receiving a waiver that allowed him to serve in the reserves and delay his active duty commitment until after his playing career is over.{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2020 |title=Army football product, Suffolk native Cole Christiansen signs with the Chargers |url=https://www.wtkr.com/sports/army-football-product-suffolk-native-cole-christiansen-signs-with-chargers |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=WTKR.com}} He was waived by the Chargers during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but was signed to the team's practice squad the next day.{{Cite web |date=September 5, 2020 |title=We've Trimmed Our Roster to 53 |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/we-ve-reduced-our-roster-to-53 |website=Chargers.com|access-date=November 22, 2020}}{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2020 |title=Practice Squad Announced |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/practice-squad-2020 |website=Chargers.com}} He was elevated to the active roster on November 21, November 28, and December 5 for the team's weeks 11, 12, and 13 games against the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers put leading tackler Kyzir White on COVID-19 list |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30360614/los-angeles-chargers-put-leading-tackler-kyzir-white-covid-19-list |website=ESPN.com |date=November 21, 2020 |accessdate=December 27, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers Activate Austin Ekeler from Injured Reserve |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-activate-austin-ekeler |website=Chargers.com |date=November 28, 2020 |accessdate=January 5, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Chargers Announce Moves Prior to Sunday's Game |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-announce-moves-prior-to-dec-6-new-england |website=Chargers.com |date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=January 10, 2021}} He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2021.{{cite news |title=Los Angeles Chargers Make Roster Moves Prior to Sunday's Game |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-make-roster-moves-prior-to-sunday-s-game |website=Chargers.com |date=January 1, 2021 |access-date=February 11, 2021}}
On August 31, 2021, Christiansen was waived by the Chargers and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.{{cite web|title=Chargers Reduce Roster to 53|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/roster-cuts-2021|website=Chargers.com|date=August 31, 2021}}{{cite web|title=Chargers Announce Practice Squad and Claim Two Players Off Waivers|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/practice-squad-2021|website=Chargers.com|date=September 1, 2021}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 11, 2022.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Re-Sign 11 Players to Contracts|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-re-sign-11-players-to-contracts|website=Chargers.com|date=January 11, 2022|access-date=January 14, 2022|archive-date=May 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512030534/https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-re-sign-11-players-to-contracts|url-status=dead}}
On August 30, 2022, Christiansen was waived by the Chargers.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Reduce Roster to 53 Players|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-reduce-2022-roster-to-53-players|website=Chargers.com|date=August 30, 2022}}
=Kansas City Chiefs=
On September 1, 2022, Christiansen was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad.{{Cite web |last=Foote |first=Jordan |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Kansas City Chiefs 2022 Practice Squad Tracker |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/kansas-city-chiefs-practice-squad-tracker-2022-roster-news-and-reports |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=SI.com}} On October 15, he was elevated to the active roster. Two days later, he recorded his first tackle with the team against the Buffalo Bills. Christiansen became a Super Bowl champion when the Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/202302120phi.htm |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}} He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Goldman |first=Charles |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Chiefs sign 12 practice squad players on reserve/future contracts |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/lists/kansas-city-chiefs-12-practice-squad-reserve-future-contracts-signed-outlook/ |access-date=March 24, 2023 |website=Chiefs Wire |publisher=USA Today}}
On August 29, 2023, Christiansen was waived by the Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Chiefs 2023 Roster Down to NFL-Mandated 53 |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-2023-roster-down-to-nfl-mandated-53 |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Chiefs.com}}{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Chiefs Announce Roster Moves |url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-roster-moves |access-date=February 16, 2024 |website=Chiefs.com}} He was promoted to the active roster on January 17, 2024. Christiansen won his second straight Super Bowl championship when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.{{Cite web |last=Maaddi |first=Rob |date=February 12, 2024 |title=Patrick Mahomes rallies the Chiefs to second straight Super Bowl title, 25–22 over 49ers in overtime |url=https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2024-score-chiefs-49ers-49b5dca51c05ab0f259cef0d7da76c2d |access-date=February 14, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}}
Christiansen re-signed with the Chiefs on March 11, 2024.{{cite web | last=Easton Jr.| first=Ed | title=Chiefs tender exclusive rights free agent LB Cole Christiansen | website=Chiefs Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2024-03-12 | url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2024/03/12/kansas-city-chiefs-tender-exclusive-rights-free-agent-cole-christiansen/ | access-date=2025-01-23}} The Chiefs withdrew Christiansen's exclusive rights tender on May 4, 2024 making a free agent. He was later re-signed.{{Cite web |last=Foote |first=Jordan |date=2024-03-11 |title=Chiefs Re-Sign Malik Herring, Three Other ERFAs |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/news/kc-chiefs-reportedly-re-sign-malik-herring-three-other-exclusive-rights-free-agents |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Sports Illustrated Kansas City Chiefs News, Analysis and More |language=en}} He was waived on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Chiefs Announce Roster Moves|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-roster-moves-2024|website=Chiefs.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Chiefs Announce Practice Squad and Other Roster Moves|url=https://www.chiefs.com/news/chiefs-announce-practice-squad-and-other-roster-moves|website=Chiefs.com|date=August 27, 2024}} He was promoted to the active roster on September 18.{{Cite web |last=Dillon |first=John |date=September 18, 2024 |title=Chiefs make key roster moves ahead of Week 3 matchup vs. Falcons |url=https://chiefswire.usatoday.com/2024/09/18/kansas-city-chiefs-roster-moves-week-3-atlanta-falcons/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Chiefs Wire |publisher=USA Today}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.chiefs.com/team/players-roster/cole-christiansen/ Kansas City Chiefs bio]
- [https://goarmywestpoint.com/sports/football/roster/cole-christiansen/14214 Army Black Knights bio]
- [https://www.colechristiansen.net Personal Website]
{{Kansas City Chiefs roster navbox}}
{{Super Bowl LVII}}
{{Super Bowl LVIII}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Christiansen, Cole}}
Category:Players of American football from Virginia
Category:Sportspeople from Suffolk, Virginia
Category:American football linebackers
Category:Army Black Knights football players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players