Cole Christiansen Bio
Cole Jennings Christiansen (born July 30, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 230 pounds, he plays the linebacker position wearing jersey number 48. A former Army Black Knights standout, Christiansen has built his NFL career as a special teams contributor and reserve defender after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.
Early Life and Background
Cole Jennings Christiansen was born on July 30, 1997, in Suffolk, Virginia. He grew up on a horse farm in the same city, where his family raised horses and maintained a working agricultural property. That rural upbringing gave him an early familiarity with hard physical labor and outdoor responsibilities, traits that later shaped his disciplined approach to football.
Christiansen attended Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, a private school in Suffolk where he lettered in both football and lacrosse. As a junior and again as a senior, he earned recognition as the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named the Tidewater Conference Player of the Year in both of those seasons, establishing himself as one of the top independent-school defensive prospects in Virginia.
Path to American Football
Christiansen committed to play college football at Army, joining the Black Knights program in 2016. He quickly developed into a steady presence on defense, becoming a starter in his sophomore season. That early elevation signaled the coaching staff’s confidence in his instincts, tackling ability, and football intelligence.
Across his four seasons at Army, Christiansen built a résumé that combined heavy tackle production with leadership responsibilities. He was named a team captain heading into his junior year, reflecting the respect he earned from teammates and coaches. His reliability and durability at the college level ultimately positioned him for a chance at the professional ranks.
Cole Christiansen Career
Early Career (2016–2019)
During his time with the Army Black Knights from 2016 through 2019, Cole Jennings Christiansen became one of the most productive tacklers in the program. As a sophomore, he finished second on the team with 84 tackles and earned a captain designation entering his junior season. He continued producing as a junior, recording 77 tackles while leading the team with 12 tackles for loss.
As a senior, Christiansen posted his most complete season, leading the Black Knights with 112 tackles along with 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. He closed his collegiate career with 275 total tackles, finishing as one of the most productive defenders in recent Army history.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2020–2021)
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Cole Jennings Christiansen signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020. His signing carried a unique wrinkle: he received a waiver that allowed him to serve in the reserves and delay his active duty commitment until after his playing career ended, a rare accommodation that let him pursue professional football while fulfilling his military obligation.
Christiansen was waived by the Chargers during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, but was signed to the team’s practice squad the next day. He received multiple elevations to the active roster during the 2020 season, appearing in games against the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, and New England Patriots. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2021, and later signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 11, 2022, before being waived again in August 2022.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2022–Present)
On September 1, 2022, Cole Jennings Christiansen signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, beginning a new chapter in his professional career. He was elevated to the active roster on October 15, 2022, and recorded his first tackle with the team two days later against the Buffalo Bills. That season ended with the biggest win of his career, as Christiansen became a Super Bowl champion when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII.
Christiansen re-signed with Kansas City through the following seasons, navigating a series of practice squad moves and active roster promotions. He won his second straight Super Bowl championship when the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII. After brief stints on the practice squad in 2024, he returned to the active roster and remained with the organization into 2025, when he was again waived and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on December 25.
Driving Style and Strengths
Christiansen is best known for his work on special teams, where his speed, tackling reliability, and field awareness have earned him a consistent role. His linebacker instincts, developed through heavy tackle totals at Army, allow him to read plays quickly and finish assignments. His ability to move between the practice squad and active roster reflects both his versatility and the trust he has built with coaching staffs.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining milestones of Cole Jennings Christiansen’s career are his back-to-back Super Bowl championships with the Kansas City Chiefs. He earned his first ring in Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles and added a second in Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers. Reaching the NFL as an undrafted free agent while balancing his Army reserves commitment stands as another signature achievement.
Cole Christiansen Career Wins
Cole Jennings Christiansen has built his resume around two Super Bowl championships rather than individual statistical accolades. Both titles came during his Kansas City Chiefs tenure, cementing his place on one of the most successful rosters of the early 2020s. As of the most recent verified NFL statistics, he has recorded 8 total tackles in his professional career.
Super Bowl Highlights
Christiansen’s first Super Bowl appearance came in Super Bowl LVII, when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Philadelphia Eagles to claim the championship. He followed that with a second consecutive title in Super Bowl LVIII, a victory over the San Francisco 49ers that secured Kansas City’s repeat. Winning two championships in his first seasons with the Chiefs highlighted his value as a reliable special teams contributor.
Other Performances
Beyond his championship appearances, Christiansen has carved out a role as a dependable practice squad call-up and reserve linebacker. His multiple elevations and promotions across both the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs demonstrate consistent evaluation from professional coaching staffs.
Cole Christiansen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cole Jennings Christiansen was raised in Suffolk, Virginia, on a horse farm that shaped much of his early life. That agricultural setting required daily responsibility and physical work, traits his family environment helped instill. His path to military service and professional football reflects the disciplined foundation built during those years in Suffolk.
Personal Life
Christiansen maintains a low public profile regarding his personal life. He has continued to balance his Army reserves commitment with his NFL career, an arrangement made possible by the waiver he received upon signing with the Chargers. Public information about his relationships and family beyond his upbringing remains limited.
2025 Season Performance
Cole Jennings Christiansen entered the 2025 season as a returning member of the Kansas City Chiefs linebacker and special teams group. On August 26, 2025, he was waived by the Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad the next day, continuing the practice squad cycle that has defined his Kansas City tenure. He was promoted to the active roster on December 25, signaling an elevated late-season role for the veteran linebacker.
Throughout the year, Christiansen served as a depth piece and core special teams contributor, providing tackling and field-position value when called upon. His veteran presence and familiarity with the Kansas City system have made him a trusted option for elevation during the regular season. With another Super Bowl defense potentially on the horizon, his role on special teams and reserve defensive snaps remains an important part of the Chiefs’ roster construction.
