_(cropped).jpg) Christiansen withArmy in 2019 | |||||
| No. 48 – Kansas City Chiefs | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||
| Roster status | Practice squad | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born | (1997-07-30)July 30, 1997 (age 28) Suffolk, Virginia, U.S. | ||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||
| Weight | 230 lb (104 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school | Nansemond-Suffolk Academy | ||||
| College | Army (2016–2019) | ||||
| NFL draft | 2020: undrafted | ||||
| Career history | |||||
| |||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||
| |||||
Cole Jennings Christiansen (born July 30, 1997) is an American professionalfootballlinebacker for theKansas City Chiefs of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theArmy Black Knights.
Christiansen grew up on a horse farm inSuffolk, Virginia, and attendedNansemond-Suffolk Academy, where he played football and lacrosse. He was named the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year and theTidewater Conference Player of the Year as a junior and as a senior.[1]
Christiansen played for theArmy 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.[2] Christiansen finished second in tackles again as a junior with 77 while also leading the team with 12 tackles for loss.[3] As a senior, he led the Black Knights with 112 tackles, with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.[4] Christiansen finished his collegiate career with 275 tackles.[5]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+3⁄4 in (1.85 m) | 230 lb (104 kg) | 31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) | 9+7⁄8 in (0.25 m) | |||||||||
| All values fromPro Day[6] | ||||||||||||
Christiansen signed with theLos 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.[7] He was waived by the Chargers during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but was signed to the team'spractice squad the next day.[8][9] 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 theNew York Jets,Buffalo Bills, andNew England Patriots, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[10][11][12] He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2021.[13]
On August 31, 2021, Christiansen was waived by the Chargers and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[14][15] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 11, 2022.[16]
On August 30, 2022, Christiansen was waived by the Chargers.[17]
On September 1, 2022, Christiansen was signed to theKansas City Chiefs practice squad.[18] On October 15, he was elevated to the active roster. Two days later, he recorded his first tackle with the team against theBuffalo Bills. Christiansen became aSuper Bowl champion when the Chiefs defeated thePhiladelphia Eagles inSuper Bowl LVII.[19] He signed a reserve/future contract on February 15, 2023.[20]
On August 29, 2023, Christiansen was waived by the Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad.[21][22] He was promoted to the active roster on January 17, 2024. Christiansen won his second straight Super Bowl championship when the Chiefs defeated theSan Francisco 49ers inSuper Bowl LVIII.[23]
Christiansen re-signed with the Chiefs on March 11, 2024.[24] The Chiefs withdrew Christiansen's exclusive rights tender on May 4, 2024 making a free agent. He was later re-signed.[25] He was waived on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad.[26][27] He was promoted to the active roster on September 18.[28]
On August 26, 2025, Christiansen was waived by the Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[29][30]
