Freeport grad Christy caps NFL career on his terms

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

August 07, 2004 Last Updated: January 06, 2005 12:14 PM Professional

Jeff Christy could see the writing on the wall, but he took it upon himself to come up with the proper ending.

Christy, a native of Freeport, walked away from an 11-year NFL career following the 2002 season, just weeks after helping the Tampa Bay Buccaneers capture Super Bowl XXXVII over the Oakland Raiders.

"Winning the Super Bowl was an unbelievable feeling," said Christy, 35, who's in the process of building a home in Freeport. "That's something every player in the NFL strives for. If not, then they're in the wrong business. It's why you play the game.

"To get there was phenomenal, a great feeling of satisfaction. I felt all the time I put into it paid off," he added.

Christy knew by mid-season that the Bucs most likely wouldn't bring him back the following season. He had plenty of interest from other NFL teams, but decided it was the perfect time to move on with his life.

"It all came to culmination," said Christy. "Everything made sense at that point. I knew they'd make a decision and that my days in Tampa would be over following the season.

"I talked it over with my wife (Kris) and whatever path I was going to take she'd support me so I could fulfill my dream.

"It really couldn't have happened at a better time, just after winning the Super Bowl," Christy added.

Christy had about a dozen offers after Tampa Bay released him in late February 2003, but nothing that would make him reconsider.

"It would have been extremely hard to play - you never say never - but I'd made up my mind," he said. "With my size (6-feet-3, 285 pounds) and the way I play, you can't play if your heart is not in it. I'd get killed if I wasn't giving 110 percent."

Christy's most appealing offer came from the Green Bay Packers.

"Just a chance to play with (quarterback) Brett Favre would have been great, and, when I played in Minnesota, I just always liked playing there at Lambeau Field," he said.

Christy has enjoyed success at each level, from Freeport High to the University of Pittsburgh to the NFL.

His senior year at Freeport, Christy, a running back who also played linebacker, scored 26 touchdowns, kicked 34 extra points and five field goals, leading the WPIAL in points scored with an eye-popping 205.

He finished his four-year career with the Yellowjackets with 2,824 yards.

Christy played as a true freshman at Pitt, and, despite being shuffled to different positions, he was an All-Big East selection as an offensive lineman his junior season.

"The thing that paid off was when they moved him to guard and center at Pitt," said former Freeport football coach Gary Kepple. "We used to joke that that's where he'd end up."

Drafted in the fourth round by the Phoenix Cardinals in the 1992 NFL draft, Christy spent the year on the practice squad before being released.

Christy was signed by Minnesota the following season, and, in 1994, the Vikings moved Christy to center.

Christy became one of the NFL's top centers, earning trips to the Pro Bowl in three consecutive years (1998 through 2000), the third coming as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kepple said he wasn't surprised that Christy had a successful career.

"He achieved everything you could achieve in football. He was all All-Pro for a number of years and won a Super Bowl," he said.

"If he looked for the right offer, he might have played longer. He didn't want to just go back. His career was pretty well fulfilled," Kepple added.

After deciding to leave the game for good, Christy and his family sold their home in Florida and came to Freeport.

They hope to move into their new home before Christmas.

"I haven't encountered any problems coming back," said Christy. "I just want to try and fit in as best as I can. I just want to fade away."

Without football, Christy now can enjoy the pleasures he missed while being away from home so much: spending time with Kris and their three children.

"The first day of school, Halloween, Christmas, at some point I missed those holidays. Now it's fun and I'm more active in their lives," he said.

Christy has been involved in real estate, and once the house is built, he might take a more active role in that area.

"Real estate is very appealing. To what extent I'll get involved, we'll wait and see. … I may pursue something more aggressively.

"Right now we have 100-something acres and we're cutting trees and chopping firewood," Christy added.

Today, more than 18 months away from the game, Christy can still look back and enjoy the experiences he's had although he has just one regret.

"I wish I could have made the Pro Bowl a couple more times," said Christy. "I felt that was in my hands and it's the one thing I felt I let myself down.

"I'm was happy, though, with how my career went. I had ups and downs, but I liked the way I responded to it. I was more than willing to move on."