In terms of Centers, there are few Professional Football players who can say that they are as successful as Bart Oates.

After going undrafted out of BYU in 1983, Oates joined the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL and won championships with them in 1984 and 1985.  When the USFL folded, he signed with the New York Giants, where he would become their starting Center, and was named an All-Rookie.  The following season would see Oates win another title, this time a Super Bowl Ring when the Giants won Super Bowl XXI.  In 1990, Oates and the Giants won another Super Bowl (XXV), but for the first time, he made the Pro Bowl.

This began his most successful individual run, as he earned that honor in 1991 and 1993.  He would sign with the San Francisco 49ers for 1994, where he played two seasons and went to his fourth and fifth Pro Bowls.  He would win another title when he assisted the Niners in their win in Super Bowl XXIX.

Five pro rings are pretty damned good, don’t you think?

Considering that Todd Christensen was drafted as a Running Back, it is impressive that he developed into one of the most successful Tight Ends of the 1980s. 

The transition to Tight End was not a quick one, and it was not until his fifth year in the NFL that Christensen was productive.  He would then embark on a five-year stretch that would see him set (then) records for receptions for the position.  The Raider would twice lead the league in receptions, which is still unheard of for a Tight End.  The five-time Pro Bowler may not have been the Raiders’ most explosive weapon, but he was their most consistent.

It could be imagined how many totals Todd Christensen could have put up had he learned the Tight End position earlier in his career.  Regardless, with two Super Bowl Rings and his early 80’s exploits, he has a legacy in Raiderland that few can match.