Christian Andrew Ponder, better known as Christian Ponder, is a former American football quarterback. The Minnesota Vikings drafted him 12th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, and he helped lead the club to a playoff trip in 2013.
He was a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers, among other teams. During his senior year at Florida State, he was also a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. In 2004, he was the starter and passed for 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns. He ran for 911 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, passing for 1,214 yards and 20 touchdowns. He was chosen to the all-district first team by “The Dallas Morning News,” and Scout.com listed him as the 20th-best quarterback prospect, while Rivals.com placed him as the 14th-best pro-style quarterback and the 50th-best college prospect in Texas. A former American football quarterback, he is well-known. For his time as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, and San Francisco 49ers football teams.
Christian Ponder’ Bio
Christian Ponder was born on February 25, 1988, in Dallas, Texas, under the name Christian Andrew Ponder. He is an American citizen with an ethnicity of white Americans. Similarly, he is a Christian who belongs to the white race. Ponder became 33 years old in 2021, and his zodiac sign is Pisces, according to his birthdate. Christian Ponder is one of numerous father-son duos who have both played under Bobby Bowden, who coached the Seminoles until the conclusion of the 2009 season. His father, David Ponder, was a defensive lineman at Florida State from 1980 to 1983. Christine Ponder is his mother’s name. Jon Ponder is his younger brother.
Ponder received his schooling at Colleyville Heritage High School, where he was a football player. He earned a finance degree at Florida State with a 3.73 GPA in two and a half years, followed by an MBA, and is now working on his second graduate degree in sports management.
Christian Ponder’s Work History
Christian Ponder began his football career in high school, where he was the starting quarterback and passed for 1,500 yards and seven touchdowns in 2004, before redshirting his true freshman season at Florida State in 2006. In 2007, he was chosen the starter ahead of senior quarterback Drew Weatherford after serving as the backup quarterback behind him. He started all 13 games and threw for 2,006 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on 318 attempts. He also rushed for 423 yards and four touchdowns on 119 attempts. Christian was awarded the team’s most valuable offensive player at the conclusion of the season. He topped the ACC in passing average per game and was among the national leaders in yards and passing efficiency through the first eight games of the 2009 season.
Ponder passed for over 2,700 yards and 14 touchdowns and pondered entering the NFL a year early after colliding with Clemson defender DeAndre McDaniel on an interception return, but his shoulder separated and he missed the remainder of the season. For the time being, his professional ambitions were dashed. In 2010, he returned to the main quarterback position. His most successful season came in 2010, his senior year and lone year under Jimbo Fisher, when he became the first Seminole quarterback since Chris Weinke in 1999 to lead his team to victory against both in-state rivals, Miami and Florida. He also received the 2010 James Tatum Award, which is awarded to the best student-athlete in the country, as well as a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award and the Bobby Bowden Award, which is given to the best student-athlete among FBS institutions.
Professional Career of Christian Ponder
The Minnesota Vikings picked Christian 12th overall in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, making him the fourth quarterback chosen following Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and Blaine Gabbert. He came to terms on a rookie deal with the Vikings that contained a $10 million guarantee. Ponder subsequently made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter against the Chicago Bears on October 16, 2011, in a game in which the Vikings were blasted out 39-10. In his first actual action, Ponder completed 9 of 17 passes for 99 yards. On Tuesday, October 18th, it was revealed that he would replace McNabb as the starter the following Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. He connected with Michael Jenkins on a 72-yard play-action throw on his first career pass attempt as a starter. He completed his first professional touchdown pass two plays later, throwing a short ball to Visanthe Shiancoe. In a 27-33 loss to the unbeaten Packers, he helped the 1-5 Vikings keep the game close by going 13 of 32 for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
On October 30, 2011, he earned his first victory as an NFL starting quarterback against his fellow 2011 draft classmate Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. In the tight 24-21 game, he passed for 236 yards and a touchdown with a passer rating of 102.7, and he concluded the season with 13 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions, tallying a 2-8 record as a starter as the Vikings went 3-13 for the first time in team history. Later, the Vikings hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars to kick off the 2012 season. Ponder threw a 26-yard pass to Devin Aromashodu with 14 seconds remaining in the game.
Christian had possibly his greatest game of his career to that time, completing 21 of 35 throws for 198 yards and two touchdowns, as well as running for another score on a 23-yard run, as the Vikings went home as underdogs against the San Francisco 49ers. The Vikings won the game 24-13, and NFL experts praised Ponder. In the fourth of those defeats, he labored terribly at Lambeau Field against the Packers on December 2nd, completing a season-long 65-yard throw to Jarius Wright, which set up his third touchdown pass of the game. He concluded the season as the 15th-best quarterback in the league, ahead of previous Pro Bowlers Jay Cutler, Josh Freeman, and Matt Cassel, according to ESPN’s Total QBR methodology. He again opened the 2013 season as the starting quarterback, but the Vikings fell 0-3, and Ponder struggled in defeats to Detroit, Chicago, and Cleveland at home. He improved from the start of the season, completing almost 67% of his throws, throwing five touchdowns, rushing for two touchdowns, and had an 86.5 quarterback rating.
Ponder’s last start of the season occurred on December 1st, when he was forced to leave the game against the Bears due to a concussion, but he came back to complete the game and lead the Vikings to a victory, and he then started the remaining four games of the season. Ponder was 2-6-1 as a starter with the Vikings, who ended the season 5-10-1. His future with the Vikings was in question after a dismal 2013 season, but he got his first regular-season action stepping in for Bridgewater after he hurt his ankle late in his first career start, a 41-28 victory against the Atlanta Falcons on September 28th. Because the Vikings declined to exercise his fifth-year option, he became an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season. From 2011 to 2013, he has a 14-21-1 record as a starter with the Vikings, starting the bulk of their games. As of the 2016 season, he is sixth in Vikings history in passing yards and tenth in passing touchdowns. He also owns a number of franchise rookie quarterback records.
Ponder signed a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders on March 13, 2015, which includes a $1.5 million signing bonus. He started training camp behind starter Derek Carr but ahead quarterback Matt McGloin with Oakland’s second-string offense. He returned to Minnesota during the preseason, when he was booed by Vikings fans. Ponder completed 7 of 11 passes for 69 yards. Christian had attention from the Philadelphia Eagles after being released by Oakland, but he was not signed. In September, he worked out for the Dallas Cowboys, and on November 3rd, he worked out for the Tennessee Titans, however neither team signed him.
Christian joined with the Denver Broncos as a third-string quarterback on November 25, 2015, while Peyton Manning was recovering from injuries. He was inactive for games against New England and San Diego while he studied the playbook, but he was cut on December 8 before ever playing a game. He played for two different clubs in 2015, worked out for two more, and drew attention from at least two more.
Following a season-ending injury to Thad Lewis and the unclear health condition of Colin Kaepernick, Ponder signed a one-year agreement with the San Francisco 49ers on August 16, 2016. The deal was for $800,000 and didn’t contain any bonuses or guarantees. Ponder’s wife disclosed on her Instagram account after he signed with the 49ers that he had previously turned down other NFL opportunities for the sake of his family.
On October 7, 2016, it was reported that following starting quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s poor performance, numerous teammates thought Ponder should start. Ponder was in uniform because of his performance in practice, according to head coach Chip Kelly. Christian Ponder Wife is a fictional character created by Christian Ponder.Christian Ponder is a husband and father.
On December 17, 2012, he married ESPN reporter Samantha Steele. Ponder messaged her on Twitter, and the two began dating soon after. The pair decided to marry after two months and drove to a Hudson, Wisconsin courthouse before having their wedding lunch at Arby’s. In April of the following year, the two married in a formal ceremony. In 2014, they had their first child, a girl called Bowden Saint-Claire Ponder. Christian’s college football coach at Florida State was called Bowden Ponder. Samantha announced the birth of the couple’s first child on Twitter in 2017. “He was named after Jackie and David (Robinson)… two men of bravery who weren’t/are/aren’t hesitant to stand by their principles and take the route less traveled,” they stated. Ponder and his wife now split their time between Arizona and New York City. Ponder is straight when it comes to his sexual orientation.
Christian Ponder Net Worth
Christian Ponder is a multi-talented individual with a net worth of $12 million in 2021. He also earns a respectable income of roughly $800,000 every year. In his professional career, he has received widespread acclaim. He has a flawless personality. He has amassed $12,546,345, according to spotrac, after six seasons in the NFL. He acquired a two-story brick and stone home in Lake Minnetonka for $880,000 in 2012, but sold it for $1.095 million after sixteen months. In addition, his football quarterbacking job is his primary source of revenue.
Christian Ponder’s height
Christian Ponder is 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters) tall and weighs roughly 230 pounds (104 kg). He has dark brown eyes and brown hair. Ponder’s ethnic origin is most likely one of the factors that contribute to his outgoing and charming demeanor. In addition, his body type is sporty.