Athletes with Names Associated with Christmas
This quarterback led his team to three consecutive NFL championships, including wins in Super Bowl I & II.
Bart Starr
This NBA Hall of Famer had four games where he compiled a triple-double on Christmas Day, doing so in 1960, 1961, 1963 and 1967.
Oscar Robertson
Born 12/25/1958. The Man of Steal still holds records for career runs scored and career stolen bases, in his 25-year MLB career.
Rickey Henderson
#1 on Christmas Day 1991. They would win back-to-back National Titles in 1991 and 1992, marking the first team to do so in 18 years.
Duke
Number #1 on 12/25/2004. A wire-to-wire #1 poll topper, Heisman winner Matt Leinart left no doubt in a 36-point Orange Bowl victory.
Southern California
After playing tight end at Notre Dame, he played the same position for the Minnesota Vikings for ten years; and was the NFL Pro Bowl MVP in 2013. Won't you guide my sleigh tonight?
Kyle Rudolph
This Lakers coach won his 1000th career game on Christmas Day 2008 as Los Angeles defeated the Boston Celtics
Phil Jackson
Born 12/25/1945. This lefty quarterback, nicknamed the Snake, guided the Raiders to a win in Super Bowl XI.
Ken Stabler
#1 on Christmas Day 1961. This team made it to three straight NCAA championship title games in 1960, 1961 and 1962.
Ohio State
#1 on 12/25/1971. They beat #2 Alabama 38-6 in the Orange Bowl, but they solidified their top ranking with a 35-31 win over Oklahoma in The Game of the Century weeks earlier.
Nebraska
A six-time Golden Glove Award winning firstbaseman for the Angels and Giants, his dad was a wide receiver for the Rams from 1965-1975.
JT Snow
He kicked the game winning 37-yard field goal at the 82:40 mark in the NFL's longest game on 12/25/1971 as the Dolphins ousted the Chiefs in the AFC Divisional playoff game.
Garo Yepremian
Born 12/25/1946. The Super Bowl VIII MVP, this Dolphins runningback rushed for 145 yards to cap Miami's second straight Super Bowl title.
Larry Csonka
#1 on 12/25/2004. They won their first 29 games of the season and made it all the way to the National Championship game in 2005. Do you remember the Miracle on Mannheim?
Illinois
#1 on 12/25/1943. QB Angelo Bertelli guided this team to seven victories against the top 13 teams in the country.
Notre Dame
No need to take a vacation in the UK. This outfielder was the 2007 NLCS MVP for the Colorado Rockies; Won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011; and was a seven-time All-Star.
Matt Holliday
On Christmas Day 2011, this Chicago Bulls guard scored 22 points against the Lakers and made the game winning floater with 4.8 seconds remaining to give Chicago an 88-87 victory.
Derrick Rose
Born 12/25/1927. This hard to strikeout second baseman won the 1959 American League MVP Award helping the White Sox to the pennant.
Nellie Fox
#1 on 12/25/1990. Their 45-game win streak was snapped in the 1991 NCAA National Semifinals, the fourth longest streak in Division 1 history.
UNLV
#1 on 12/25/1945. Doc Blanchard became the first junior to win the Heisman for this team. They outscored their opponents 412-46.
Army
He was the starting pitcher for the White Sox in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series. The 6'6"right-hander won 18 games for the Pale Hose that year.
Jon Garland
On 12/25/2003 this Hawaiian native threw for 475 yards and five touchdown passes for the University of Hawaii, as they defeated Houston in triple overtime.
Timmy Chang
Born 12/25/1988. A high school Mister Basketball in Indiana, he played for the Hoosiers before embarking on an 18-year NBA career that saw him win the league's Sixth Man Award with the Sixers in 2017.
Eric Gordon
#1 on 12/25/1983. They were number 1 in the nation until being upset by #4-seed Indiana in the 1984 Sweet 16.
North Carolina
#1 on 12/25/1999. Sixteen players from this undefeated National Championship team went on to play in the NFL.
Florida State