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Gerald Christian

Gerald Christian (born August 26, 1991) is an American former professional football tight end who briefly played in the National Football League (NFL). A highly touted recruit out of high school, he began his college career at the University of Florida before transferring to the University of Louisville, where he contributed as a key player on the Cardinals' offense. Selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the seventh round, 256th overall, of the 2015 NFL Draft, Christian became known as "Mr. Irrelevant," the nickname given to the final pick of the draft. During his brief NFL tenure, Christian spent the 2015 season on injured reserve with the following a preseason knee injury. He signed a four-year contract with the Cardinals following the . He briefly re-signed with the Cardinals in 2017 but did not play. Christian appeared in three games for the in 2016 (after being promoted from the practice squad), recording one reception for 14 yards. After his NFL opportunities ended, Christian continued his professional career in the (AAF), playing for the in 2019 before the league folded. Prior to his professional endeavors, Christian was a four-star prospect and the No. 2 in according to , earning a spot in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl during his time at William T. Dwyer High School in . At Louisville, he stood at 6 feet 3 inches and weighed 250 pounds, showcasing versatility as a blocker and receiver in college play.

Early life

Upbringing

Gerald Christian was born on August 26, 1991, in . Limited public information is available regarding his family background, though he has a , , who later followed a similar path in . No specific details on parental influences or other siblings have been documented in interviews or profiles. Christian grew up in the area, where early life experiences shaped his transition into organized sports at William T. Dwyer High School.

High school career

Gerald Christian attended William T. Dwyer High School in , where he played under Jack Daniels. As a , he excelled at both and linebacker, contributing significantly to the team's defensive efforts with over 170 tackles across his final two seasons. During his senior year in , Christian helped lead the Dwyer Panthers to a Class 4A state championship with a 14-1 record, recording 367 receiving yards on 21 catches and three touchdowns offensively. He was named to the 2008 All-Area first team by and selected for the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Scouts recognized Christian as a four-star prospect and the No. 2 nationally by , ranking him among the top recruits in . He initially committed to the in the 2010 recruiting class.

College career

University of Florida

Gerald Christian enrolled at the in January 2010 as a . In the 2010 season, Christian appeared in eight of the Gators' 13 games, primarily contributing on special teams and as a blocker without recording any receptions or offensive statistics. As a in 2011, Christian encountered limited opportunities due to intense competition on the depth chart and the challenges of adapting to the physical demands of . He was temporarily shifted to linebacker during spring practice to bolster the defense's need for larger bodies, but returned to amid injuries to other players, further disrupting his development. Throughout the 2011 season, he played in seven games, logging minimal offensive production with four receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown. Following the 2011 season, Christian sought more playing time and transferred to the University of Louisville.

University of Louisville

After transferring from the University of Florida in January 2012, Gerald Christian sat out the 2012 season per NCAA transfer eligibility rules before making his debut for the Louisville Cardinals in 2013. This period of development followed a limited role at Florida and positioned him for greater contributions as a tight end in the ACC. In , as a , Christian recorded 28 receptions for 426 yards and four touchdowns across 12 games, establishing himself as the team's fourth-leading . He concluded the with two catches for 25 yards in the Russell Athletic Bowl win over . Christian's senior year in 2014 marked a career high, with 32 receptions for 384 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games, earning him third-team All-ACC honors from the conference coaches. A highlight came in the Belk Bowl against , where he hauled in two passes for 25 yards and a touchdown, including a notable one-handed grab on a 12-yard slant. Over his two seasons at Louisville, Christian totaled 60 receptions for 810 yards and nine touchdowns in 25 games.

Professional career

2015 NFL Draft

Gerald Christian was selected by the in the seventh round, 256th overall, with the final pick of the , earning him the title of "Mr. Irrelevant." This selection made him the final chosen in the draft. Pre-draft evaluations praised Christian as a competitive move tight end capable of making contested catches in traffic, though he lacked elite size and speed. At the , he stood at 6 feet 3 inches and weighed 244 pounds, recorded a 4.87-second , and led all s with 28 repetitions, underscoring his blocking strength despite average athleticism. Scouts ranked him as the eighth-best prospect overall. Christian's strong senior season at Louisville, with 32 receptions for 384 yards and five touchdowns, bolstered his draft profile as a versatile option. Following the draft, he expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity with the Cardinals and anticipated participating in Week celebrations in . He signed his rookie contract with on May 18, 2015.

Arizona Cardinals (first stint)

Following his selection as the final pick in the , known as "," Gerald Christian signed a four-year rookie contract with the on May 18, 2015. The deal was standard for a seventh-round selection, positioning him to compete for a roster spot as a during . Christian participated in the Cardinals' 2015 preseason, appearing in the first three games and showing promise as a blocker while catching passes in limited action before suffering a left injury, specifically an MCL tear, during the first half of the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos on September 3, 2015. The required him to be carted off the field, and he was subsequently placed on injured reserve on September 5, 2015, causing him to miss the entire . During his time on , Christian focused on but did not return to play for the Cardinals that year. In 2016, Christian returned to as he continued recovering from the knee injury, but his participation remained limited. He appeared in all three preseason games, recording one reception for 11 yards, yet struggled to secure a roster spot amid competition at . On August 29, 2016, the Cardinals released him as part of final roster cuts, ending his initial stint with the team without any regular-season appearances.

Buffalo Bills

After being released by the Arizona Cardinals in August 2016, Christian signed with the ' practice squad on September 7, 2016. Christian was promoted to the Bills' active roster for the first time on October 4, 2016, following the release of Jim Dray. He was returned to the practice squad shortly after but earned another promotion on December 3, 2016. During the 2016 season, Christian appeared in three games for the Bills without starting, logging limited snaps on offense and special teams. His only regular-season statistics came in a December 4, 2016, loss to the , where he recorded one reception for 14 yards. Christian remained with the Bills through the 2016 season and into the 2017 offseason but was released on March 6, 2017, as part of a group of veteran players cut to manage the roster.

Arizona Cardinals (second stint)

Following his release from the in March 2017, Gerald Christian re-signed with the on July 27, 2017, to a one-year contract, shortly before the start of . This marked his return to the team that had originally drafted him in the seventh round of the , where he had spent his rookie season on injured reserve due to a injury. The Cardinals created roster space for Christian by releasing Steven Wroblewski. During the 2017 and preseason, Christian competed for a spot on the depth chart amid stiff competition from established players like and emerging talents such as . He did not record any statistics or appear in any preseason games, as the team prioritized other options at the position. Limited opportunities in practice and scrimmages highlighted the challenges of securing a roster spot for a player returning from prior injuries and a brief stint elsewhere. Christian was waived by the Cardinals on September 2, 2017, as part of the team's final roster cuts to reach the 53-player limit ahead of the regular season. This release effectively concluded his career, as he did not secure another opportunity with any team thereafter.

Arizona Hotshots

Following his release from the NFL's , Gerald Christian joined the of the newly formed (AAF) as part of the team's roster of former Cardinals players ahead of the league's 2019 inaugural season. As a , Christian played in all eight games for the Hotshots, starting seven of them. Over the course of the season, he recorded 14 receptions on 20 targets for 158 receiving yards and one touchdown. His lone touchdown was a six-yard reception from John in the first quarter of the Hotshots' season-opening 38–22 victory over the on February 9, 2019, marking the first score in franchise history. The AAF suspended operations on April 2, 2019, after only eight weeks of play due to financial issues, preventing the completion of the season and effectively concluding Christian's professional football career.

Post-football activities

Retirement

Following the dissolution of the in April 2019 amid financial difficulties, Gerald Christian did not sign any further professional contracts, marking the effective end of his playing career. In his final season with the , Christian appeared in all eight games, starting seven, and recorded 14 receptions for 158 yards and one , serving as a key . No formal announcement or public reflections on his career conclusion have been documented.

Other pursuits

Following the conclusion of his professional football career with the of the in 2019, Gerald Christian has maintained a low public profile, with no documented involvement in coaching, media commentary, or business ventures related to sports. As of November 2025, credible news outlets and biographical sources offer scant details on his personal or professional activities, such as community service or family life, highlighting a notable absence of post-career coverage beyond his athletic tenure. This gap leaves much of his life after unexplored in public records.

References

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