Michael Christianson

Last updated
Michael Christianson
Biographical details
Born (1965-04-07) April 7, 1965 (age 58)
Boise, Idaho, U.S.
Alma mater Western Oregon University
Playing career
1987 Portland State
1988–1991 Western Oregon
Position(s) Tight end - Offensive line
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1992 Western Oregon (OL)
1993–1994 Western Oregon (TE)
1995 Lewis & Clark (TE/RB)
1996 Portland State (OL)
1997–1999 Portland State (RB)
2000-2001 Montana State (TE)
2002–2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OL)
2003 Oakland Raiders (Consultant)
2004–2006 Nebraska (SA)
2006–2007 San Diego (TE)
2011–2013 San Francisco 49ers (RB)
2014-2016 ESPN Radio Boise (Host/Analyst/PD)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards

Michael Christianson (born April 7, 1965) is an American football college and professional coach. Christianson most recently served as the assistant running backs coach and the Director of Technology for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL) in 2011 [1] thru 2013 which featured a Super Bowl appearance against the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII (47). Prior to his tenure with the 49ers, Christianson also served on University of Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh's staff at the University of San Diego (USD) where the Toreros of the Pioneer Football League won a Division I-AA Mid-Major National title in 2006. He has worked as a football coach at several other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions, including The University of Nebraska, Montana State University and Portland State University. Christianson coached the offensive line in 2002-2003 as a member of Jon Gruden's staff and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, [2] winning Super Bowl XXXVII (37). Christianson played tight-end and offensive lineman at Western Oregon University.

Contents

Playing career

Christianson was a linebacker and tight-end at Kuna High School (Kuna, ID). He went on to play college football at Portland State University (NCAA FCS) and then transferred to Western Oregon University (NAIA DIVII).

Coaching career

Christianson began his coaching career at his alma mater, Western Oregon University in 1991 and spent 4 years coaching the offensive line and the tight-ends. In 1995, he spent one season with the Lewis & Clark College Pioneers (NAIA DivII) as the recruiting coordinator and tight-ends/running backs coach.

He then went on to coach in the Big Sky Conference and Portland State University (PSU). At PSU he coached one year as the assistant offensive line coach and 3 years as the Vikings running backs coach. While at Portland State he is largely attributed for helping to develop one of the most prolific running backs in Portland State school history in Charles 'Chip' Dunn. Dunn, who played at PSU from 1997 to 2000, rushed for more than 6,000 yards [3] as a Viking, was a first-team All-American and is a member of the Portland State Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2013 Dunn ranked number 35 among Big Sky Conference's Top 50 All-Time Athletes. [4]

Christianson left Portland State in 2000 to coach the tight-ends for the Bobcats and Montana State University.

He made his NFL coaching debut as the assistant offensive line coach for the 2002 Super Bowl XXXVII Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and head coach Jon Gruden. After a short stint with the Oakland Raiders as a contractor, he followed Raiders head coach, Bill Callahan to the University of Nebraska 2004 thru 2006 where he was the senior offensive assistant and helped Callahan with all facets of the program. [5] He was instrumental in assisting offensive coordinator Jay Norvell in developing the west coast offense in Lincoln. The Huskers beat Michigan in the 2005 Alamo Bowl during his tenure. [6] While at the University of Nebraska, he oversaw the development and execution of one of the largest athletic technology projects in Nebraska history.

Christianson had a couple stops with both Avid Sports and XOS Digital where he worked to develop, implement and train coaches on the use and benefits of technology as it relates to the sport of football. Christianson is considered an expert when it comes to technology and how it relates to the game of football. [7] [8] He coordinated and helped develop large football technology projects at the Oakland Raiders, the University of Nebraska and the San Francisco 49ers to name just a few.

After working with Jim Harbaugh at the Raiders, he joined the staff at the University of San Diego (USD) in 2006. [9] At USD, Christianson worked as the tight-end coach and assistant offensive Line coach with current University of Southern Cal Run Game Coordinator/Runningback Coach, Tim Drevno. During his tenure, USD won the Pioneer Football League championship and an NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major National Championship. [10] That year, USD led the Nation in passing offense, total offense, and scoring offense. [11] He also coached USD starting tight end Chris Ramsey to a 2nd Team Mid-Major All-American honors. [12]

In 2012, Christianson coached in his second Super Bowl after joining the San Francisco 49ers in February 2011. [13] Working closely with Tom Rathman, Christianson played a major role in 2011 in the development of the 49ers rushing attack [14] and in mentoring veteran player Frank Gore to his 5th 1,000 yard season. Gore became the 49ers all-time leading rusher in 2011. [15] Christianson coached running back Frank Gore in 2012 when Gore was named to the NFL Pro Bowl. [16]

Personal life

Christianson is a native of Boise Idaho and is married to his wife Tracy. [17] He received his bachelor's and master's degree in secondary education and administration with a minor in computer applications from Western Oregon University & Oregon State University.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Walsh (American football coach)</span> American football coach (1931–2007)

William Ernest Walsh was an American professional and college football coach. He served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Stanford Cardinal, during which time he popularized the West Coast offense. After retiring from the 49ers, Walsh worked as a sports broadcaster for several years and then returned as head coach at Stanford for three seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Craig (American football)</span> American football player (born 1960)

Roger Timothy Craig is an American former football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders and Minnesota Vikings. Craig went to four Pro Bowls and won three Super Bowls with the 49ers. Craig was the first NFL player to have 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey are the only other players to have accomplished that feat. He currently works as the VP of Business Development at TIBCO Software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Callahan (American football)</span> American football coach (born 1956)

William E. Callahan is an American football coach who is the offensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was the head coach of the Oakland Raiders for the 2002 and 2003 seasons and led them to Super Bowl XXXVII. He was also the head coach for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 2004 to 2007 and the offensive line coach and interim head coach for the Washington Redskins from 2015 to 2019. Callahan is considered to be one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL.

Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo is an American football coach and former player. He played professionally as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for eight seasons with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets. Tuiasosopo was selected by the Raiders in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Washington in Seattle, and was the player of the game in the 2001 Rose Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monte Kiffin</span> American and football player and coach, Canadian football player.

Monte George Kiffin is an American football coach. He is currently a player personnel analyst at Ole Miss for his son, Lane Kiffin. He is widely considered to be one of the preeminent defensive coordinators in modern football, as well as one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history. Father of the widely imitated "Tampa 2" defense, Kiffin's concepts are among the most influential in modern college and pro football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh McDaniels</span> American football coach

Joshua Thomas McDaniels is an American football coach in the National Football League (NFL). He began his NFL career in 2001 with the New England Patriots, where he served as the offensive coordinator for 14 non-consecutive seasons. During McDaniels' first stint as offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008, New England set the season record for points scored and became the first team to win all 16 regular season games in 2007. In his second stint from 2012 to 2021, the Patriots won three Super Bowl titles. McDaniels was also among the Patriots personnel to be present for all six of their titles during the Brady–Belichick era.

William Scott Musgrave is an American football coach and former player who is the senior offensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He is a former quarterback, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for multiple NFL teams. He played college football at the University of Oregon. He is also the uncle of Green Bay Packers tight end Luke Musgrave.

Tom Melvin is an American football coach who is the tight ends coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). His cousin, Bob Melvin, is manager of the San Diego Padres.

Alfred Theodore Tollner is a former American football player and coach. He had served as the head coach at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1983 to 1986 and San Diego State University (SDSU) from 1994 to 2001, compiling an overall college football record of 69–68–1. Tollner also was an assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, including stints as offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Knapp</span> American football coach (1963–2021)

Gregory Fishbeck Knapp was an American professional football coach in the National Football League (NFL). He served as an assistant coach for 25 seasons with the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football and later coached at California State University, Sacramento.

Darrel "Mouse" Davis is a retired American football coach and former player. A veteran coach at the high school, college, and professional levels, he last coached with Jerry Glanville at Portland State and with June Jones at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Davis served as the head football coach at Portland State University from 1975 to 1980, compiling a record of 42–24. He has also been a head coach with the Denver Gold of the United States Football League (1985), the New York/New Jersey Knights of the World League of American Football (1991–1992), and the Detroit Fury of the Arena Football League (2001–2002) and the San Diego Riptide (2003) of AF2. A native of Washington, Davis grew up in Oregon, where he started his coaching career as a high school football coach. Davis is now widely regarded as the 'godfather' of the run and shoot offense.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Chryst</span> American football player and coach (born 1965)

Paul Joseph Chryst is a former American football head coach and former player. He was most recently the head football coach for the Wisconsin Badgers. Chryst was the head coach at the University of Pittsburgh from 2012 to 2014. Prior to his head coaching career, Chryst had previously been the offensive coordinator at Wisconsin from 2005 through 2011. He also served in the same capacity at Oregon State University and was an assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League. Chryst played college football at Wisconsin, where he lettered as a quarterback and tight end from 1986 to 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Frost</span> American football coach (born 1975)

Scott Andrew Frost is a former American football coach and player. He was the head football coach at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln from 2018 to 2022. Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Frost played college football as a quarterback for the Stanford Cardinal and the Nebraska Cornhuskers, the latter of which he led to a shared national championship in 1997. He played six years in the NFL, mostly on special teams.

Barney Thomas Cotton is an American football coach and former player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chip Kelly</span> American football coach (born 1963)

Charles Edward Kelly is an American football coach who is the head coach of the UCLA Bruins. He came to prominence as the head coach of the Oregon Ducks from 2009 to 2012, whom he led to four consecutive BCS bowl game appearances, including the 2011 BCS National Championship Game. This success led to him serving as a head coach in the National Football League (NFL) for four seasons, three with the Philadelphia Eagles (2013–2015) and one with the San Francisco 49ers (2016). Kelly only made the playoffs in his first season with Philadelphia, and he was fired from both teams. After leaving the NFL, Kelly returned to college football in 2018 to coach UCLA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben McAdoo</span> American football coach (born 1977)

Benjamin Lee McAdoo is an American football coach, who most recently served as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers in the National Football League (NFL). McAdoo was most notably the head coach of the New York Giants from 2016 to 2017, after serving as their offensive coordinator the previous two years under former head coach Tom Coughlin. He was fired from that position on December 4, 2017 following a 2–10 start, along with benching longtime starting quarterback Eli Manning. At the time of his termination, his 28 regular season games were the fewest by a Giants coach since 1930. Prior to working for the Panthers, McAdoo has also served as an assistant coach for several college football teams, as well as for the New Orleans Saints, the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Feliciano</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jon Feliciano is an American football center for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Drevno</span> American football player and coach (born 1969)

Timothy David Drevno is an American football player and coach, who is currently serving as the offensive line coach at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Prior to this role, Drevno served as the offensive line coach at the University of Southern California (USC), a position he previously held in 2014. From 2015 to 2017 he served as the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at the University of Michigan. From 2011 to 2013, he was the offensive line coach of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Prior to his tenure with the 49ers, Drevno worked as a football coach at several other National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions, including Stanford University, where he was the offensive line coach from 2007 to 2010. Drevno played college football as an offensive lineman at California State University, Fullerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ross Dwelley</span> American football player (born 1995)

Ross Dwelley is an American football tight end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at San Diego and signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2018.

Gerry Gdowski is an American former college football quarterback for the University of Nebraska, and later a college football coach.

References

  1. ↑ "49ers Name Christianson Offensive Coach". CSNBayArea.com. CSNBayArea.com. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  2. ↑ Reynolds, Scott. "Tampa Bay Adds 7 Assistant Coaches". BucsBlitz. BucMag.com. Retrieved 25 February 2002.
  3. ↑ "Charles "Chip" Dunn". Official Site of the Portland State Viking. Football Induction Class of 2006.
  4. ↑ Kasper, John. "Big Sky's "50 Greatest Male Athletes"". Big Sky Conference. Big Sky Conference. Retrieved 24 October 2013.
  5. ↑ "Coach Info: Position:". HuskersNside. Nebraska Huskers.
  6. ↑ "Nebraska 32 Michigan 28". huskermax.com. huskermax.com. Retrieved 28 December 2005.
  7. ↑ Hogan Ketchum, Karen. "49ers Streamline Coaching Analysis With Panasonic Workflow". Sports Video Group. SVG. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Nebraska Bio". Nebraska Football. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "Michael Christianson". Usdtoreros.cstv.com. usdtoreros.com. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Toreros 2006 Mid-Major National Champions". usdtoreros.com. usdtoreros.com. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
  11. ↑ Pioneer Football, League. "2006 Pioneer Football League Team Statistics Through games of Jul 31, 2008". streamlinetechnologies.com. streamlinetechnologies.com/pioneer-football. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  12. ↑ "19 Chris Ramsey". usdtoreros.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ramsey_chris00.html. usdtoreros.com. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
  13. ↑ 49ers Public Relations. "49ers Add Assistant Coach". 49ers.com. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
  14. ↑ Espinoza, Alex. "Playing It Forward". 49ers.com. San Francisco 49ers. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  15. ↑ Lynch, Kevin. "Frank Gore sets franchise rushing record". SFGate. Hearst Communications, Inc. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "2012 Pro Bowl Rosters". NFL.com. NFL.com. Retrieved 27 December 2011.
  17. ↑ Pilato, Gino. "Same 8 Questions: Michael Christianson (Former NFL and Collegiate Coach)". The Sports Daily. TheSportsDaily.com. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.