Former Raiders tight end Todd Christensen, a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion, passed away on Wednesday after complications from surgery, per his alma mater BYU. Christensen had dealt with liver disease, among other illnesses, in recent years.
Todd Christensen passes away at age 57
The former star tight end for the Los Angeles Raiders had been dealing with numerous illnesses over the last several years.
Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE
Christensen was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1978 NFL Draft but bounced around for several years before solidifying himself a viable receiving threat for the Raiders during the shortened 1982 season. He caught 92 passes in 1983, then an NFL record for tight ends. He broke his own record four seasons later when he caught 95 passes for 1,153 yards in 1986.
He made the Pro Bowl for five straight years and was a first team All-Pro in 1983 and 1985. He was not a part of the offense when the Raiders won the Super Bowl in 1980, but was their leading receiver in every category when they won the Super Bowl again in 1983, after the team moved to Los Angeles.
Christensen was 57.
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