(Dec. 13, 1909 – Jul. 1, 1968) George Christensen carried the University of Oregon’s name into the National Football League during the early years of the league as a lineman before becoming a successful businessman.

Born in Pendleton in 1909, Christensen played at Oregon from 1928-30 and was a Pacific Coast Conference all-star as a tackle in 1930. While at Oregon, the Ducks were a combined 23-7. Christensen often played entire games as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

After graduation, he moved to the NFL, which had begun in 1920. Christensen played three seasons for the Portsmouth Spartans, and five for the Detroit Lions, who won the league title in 1935. He played 93 games in eight seasons.
Three decades later, the Associated Press named him a lineman on the NFL’s All-1930s team.

In 1944, Christensen became a business owner with a former teammate manufacturing diamond core bits for the mining industry.

Christensen was inducted to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 1980 and the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.