Paul Christman

Infobox NFLretired
|caption=
width=
position=Quarterback
number=44
birthdate=birth date|1918|3|5
St. Louis, Missouri
deathdate=death date and age|1970|3|2|1918|3|5
Lake Forest, Illinois
debutyear=1945
finalyear=1950
draftyear=1941
draftround=2
draftpick=13
college=Missouri
teams=
* Chicago Cardinals (1945-1949)
* Green Bay Packers (1950)
stat1label=TD-INT
stat1value=58-76
stat2label=Yards
stat2value=7,294
stat3label=QB Rating
stat3value=54.8
nfl=CHR581406
highlights=
* 2x All-Pro selection (1946, 1947)
CollegeHOF=30109

Paul Joseph Christmancite web|title=Christman on Pro-Football-Reference |work=rbref.com |url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ChriPa20.htm |accessdate=2007-12-31] (March 5, 1918 - March 2, 1970) was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.

Collegiate career

A St. Louis native, Christman led the Missouri Tigers to a 20-8 record during his three seasons as their starting quarterback. He was a two-time All-American, and led the nation in touchdown passes in 1940. He was Missouri's all-time leading passer until 1976, when he was surpassed by Steve Pisarkiewicz. While at Missouri University he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. His jersey number, 44, is one of six retired by the school. In 1956, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

National Football League career

Christman played six seasons in the National Football League, from 1945-1950. He was a member of the so-called "Million Dollar Backfield," which led the Cardinals to the 1947 NFL Championship. A notoriously poor ball-handler, at one time he owned the record for most fumbles in a game (five) and most own fumbles recovered in a season (eight).

Broadcasting career

After retiring as a player Christman worked as a color commentator for American Football League games on NBC television, teamed with play-by-play announcer Curt Gowdy; in 1967, the pair called Super Bowl I for the network. In 1968-69 he moved to rival CBS, teaming with Ray Scott on NFL broadcasts.

Personal

His daughter is noted Scientology critic Tory Christman.

Death

Christman died in 1970 in Lake Forest, Illinois from a heart attack.

ee also

* List of NFL on NBC commentator pairings
* List of NFL on CBS commentator pairings

References

External links

* [http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/fumbles NFL.com list of fumble records]
* [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.jsp?release_id=1701 Pro Football Hall of Fame article on the "Million Dollar Backfield"]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=CHRISPAU01 Career statistics at databaseFootball.com]
* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=30109 Biography from the College Football Hall of Fame]
* [http://www.geocities.com/byergo/records.htmlMissouri Tigers Football Honors and Records]