When he left the football and soccer fields of Oakville/Trafalgar Collegiate for the last time, Steve Christie had no idea what fate had in store for him. Christie, born in Hamilton but raised in Oakville, made his way south to the U.S.A. to attend William & Mary University in Virginia.
At college, Christie continued to play both of his beloved sports, but it was with football that he found true success. As a punter and field goal kicker, he recorded 279 points, second on the school’s all-time scoring list. In 1988, these feats garnered him an All-American honourable mention, and in 1989, he was named a first team All-American.
Following college, Christie joined the NFL. This career took him further south, to Tampa Bay, where he played two seasons. He hit 23 of 27 field goals, and was successful on all 27 point after tries. In 1992, he became a member of the Buffalo Bills, where he became both a fan favourite and one of the most prolific scorers in the league. He was a key contributor to the Bills’ comeback win over Houston in the 1992 playoffs: as his team rallied from a 35-3 deficit, Christie recovered his own onside kick, becoming the first kicker in history to do so in a playoff game. He then booted the game-winning three points in overtime.
Christie added five field goals to his roster in the Bills’ 29-10 win over Miami in the AFC Championship game, and set a 1994 team record by kicking a 59-yard field goal. Additionally, he kicked the longest field goal in Super Bowl history, a 54-yarder against the Dallas Cowboys. scoring records, including most career points (1,011), the most points in one season (40), most field goals in one game (6), and most field goals in one season (33) After the 2000 season, Christie joined the San Diego Chargers and played three seasons. During his time in San Diego, he was honoured by William & Mary University by his induction into the School’s Hall of Fame.
Always aware of community responsibilities, Christie donated $300 for each of his successful field goals to Camp Good Days and Special Times, a New York State charity providing an arts and crafts camp experience to children in need. He also volunteers as a camp counselor.
