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Steve Christie

Steve Christie

Long NFL career for Oakville native

2005

In 2003 as a San Diego Charger, kicker Steve Christie, who was born in Oakville, Ontario, became the 14th player in NFL history to kick 300 field goals. The New York Giant is ranked the 16th all-time leading scorer with 1,377 career points.

Did you grow up playing hockey in Canada?

"I did play hockey, just pick up stuff with the guys. Everybody pretty much plays hockey up there and learns to skate. I didn't play in any organized leagues, just a lot of pick up stuff on the ponds and creeks. I was a big Toronto Maple Leafs fan and my favourite player was Darryl Sittler and he was just a good example for any kid growing up in any country of how to be committed to a sport and to play hard and play as part of a team. I really learned a lot just from watching him."

Player Profile

What is your earliest memory of football?

"NFL, I don't have any memories. I never really watched it. I watched a little bit of CFL growing up and guys like Dieter Brock and Warren Moon were big back then."

What got you started playing football?

"I was a soccer player growing up and just learned to kick a football that way and my high school coach Tom Johnson asked me to play as a favor because they didn't have anyone in the high school that could kick field goals."

Playing HS football in Canada, what kind of things did you do to get yourself noticed by US colleges?

"It was difficult. I only had tape of one game. It was our county final and I had one punt which was 54 yards, a couple of field goals and kicked off well. That was the only tape we had so that was what we sent. That's very limited as far as what I had and what I could send them."

(Christie spent his college years at William and Mary as punter and placekicker. There he set many records, including most points (279), most field goals (57 of 83), most PATs (108 of 116) and longest field goal (53 yards, three times). Christie also completed an art history degree while at William and Mary).

Any advice for Canadian players:

"My first suggestion is to keep up on what's required such as your SAT's. You have to take them and in order to compete with the rest of the kids in the United States, a lot of them are taking courses now for the test. I'd recommend they do the same or take dry run practice tests for the SAT because we do not have them in Canada so that was a big shock to me. I couldn't study for it, so I just went in and did it. That was tough."

On your Canadian heritage:

"Well it's important. I still have a house in Canada that we spend a lot of time at because I do want to be home too. With no disrespect to the CFL, it was a real surprise to make the NFL in the first place because I enjoyed a pretty good career in college, but didn't think I was good enough to make it in the NFL quite frankly and then I was lucky enough to land in Tampa. (Christie has played for the Buccaneers, Bills and Chargers) I know it's difficult for Canadians to get down here because there are a lot less of us going to college, but that was part of why it worked out was because I went to school in the states. That made a big difference in terms of coaching and getting the exposure that you need to make it in the NFL."