fired in the middle of the season, as the Chiefs compiled a 2–12 record. Seattle Seahawks In April 1978, Christiansen was hired by the Seattle Seahawks, replacing Bob Holloway as the team's defensive backfield coach. He spent five years as the Seahawks' defensive backfield coach, from 1978 to 1982. Atlanta Falcons In February 1983, Christiansen was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as its secondary coach. In January 1984, Christiansen resigned his position with the Falcons after being diagnosed with cancer. Honors, family, and later years After his playing career ended, he received numerous honors, including the following: In 1967, he was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. He was the first Colorado State athlete to be so honored. In 1969, he was named as a starting safety on the NFL's 1950s All-Decade Team. In 1970, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In 1977, he was selected by Pro Football Digest as the safety on its all-time all-pro football team of 25 players. In 1986, weeks prior to his death, he was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. In 1988, he was posthumously inducted into the Colorado State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was ranked number 86 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. Also in 1999, he was selected as both a safety and punt returner on the Detroit Free Press' all-time Lions team. Christiansen and his wife, Doris, had four daughters. He retired from coaching in 1984 after being diagnosed with cancer. He died in June 1986 at age 57 after undergoing surgery at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Head coaching record NFL College References External links 1928 births 1986 deaths American football safeties American football return specialists Atlanta Falcons coaches Colorado State Rams football players Detroit Lions players Kansas City Chiefs coaches San Francisco 49ers coaches San Francisco 49ers head coaches Seattle Seahawks coaches Stanford Cardinal football coaches Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Western Conference Pro Bowl players People from Cañon City, Colorado People from Sublette, Kansas Players of American football from Colorado Deaths from cancer in California