Chris Jensen

Chris Jensen

  • Year:
    1984
  • Hometown:
    Dundee, Illinois
  • High School:
    Dundee
  • Team:
    Football

Chris Jensen grew up in Dundee, Illinois, and attended Dundee High School, where he was a four-sport athlete (football, baseball, basketball, and golf). On the baseball field, he was the team MVP and a unanimous All-Conference selection as a senior and set school records for home runs and runs batted in. He was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in 1978.

Jensen transferred from Harper Junior College to Lake Forest College in the fall of 1982. He was a unanimous All-Conference selection following both of his seasons on the Forester football team and earned Second Team All-American honors his senior year. He established new school records for receptions (48), receiving touchdowns (12) and points scored (78) in a season. He finished his collegiate football career ranked second in school history in receiving yards (1,521) and receiving touchdowns (16) and third in yards per reception (17.1).

In January of 1984, Jensen was drafted by the Michigan Panthers of the USFL but declined to earn his degree from Lake Forest. He signed a contract with the Chicago Bears the following May and lists playing with Walter Payton, who he claims is "the greatest player of all time," as his finest accomplishment in the realm of athletics.

After his football playing days, Jensen succeeded in the field of financial services. In his personal life, he lists being a husband to Geralyn and father to Kyle, Alex, and Emma as his greatest lifetime achievement.