Christian Fauria

Christian Ashley Fauria (born September 22, 1971 in Harbor City, California) is a retired American football tight end.

Early life
Fauria attended Crespi Carmelite High School in Encino, California and lettered in football, track, and once in basketball. In football, as a senior, he was the team captain, the team MVP, a first team All-Del Rey League honoree, and a first team All-CIF honoree. In his only season of high school varsity basketball, he averaged 16.0 points and 13.0 rebounds. Fauria graduated from high school in 1990.

College
Fauria attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he caught 98 passes for 1,458 yards (14.87 yards per rec.), and 12 touchdowns in a successful partnership with quarterback Kordell Stewart. He still holds the Big Eight Conference record for pass receptions by a tight end. As a senior, he was the team captain on an AP "top 3 team" that posted an 11-1 record, and was part of the offensive line that assisted Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam to a 2,000 yard season. In that year, Fauria was also a first team All-Big 12 choice, a third team Associated Press All-American choice, and he won the Derek Singleton Award, which is given to the University of Colorado football player who displays the most enthusiasm, dedication, and spirit. While in college, he appeared in an American version of Takeshi's Castle with other members of his family called "Storm the Castle" in 1993.

Professional football
Drafted with the 39th pick, Fauria played seven seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, recording a career high 37 receptions in 1998. He then joined the New England Patriots in 2002 up until 2005, where he started and played for two Super Bowl champions (2004–2005). Some believed he was signed in 2002 to serve as a mentor to 1st round draft pick and fellow University of Colorado alumnus Daniel Graham, however Fauria earned the starting position during the season and recorded a career high of seven touchdowns for the year. After the Patriots, Fauria joined the Washington Redskins for one season. He was released on February 28, 2007 and signed with the Carolina Panthers on September 10, 2007 to play in his 13th and final season. On November 18, 2007, Fauria and Quarterback Vinny Testaverde hooked up for a two-yard touchdown reception that entered the pair into the NFL record books for the somewhat dubious distinction of oldest combined age for a TD reception (over 80 years).

Post-NFL career
Fauria is a studio analyst for College Football on Versus, and currently works as a co-host for Dirty Water TV on NESN.

Fauria is presently part of the Sunday morning Boston radio (WEEI)team which hosts "NFL Sunday", analyzing that day's upcoming games, particularly those of the New England Patriots.

Personal life
Fauria currently resides in North Attleborough, Massachusetts. He is married and has four children. His nephew, Joseph Fauria, currently plays Tight End for the UCLA Bruins after having transferred from the University of Notre Dame after his freshman season.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2010, Fauria was involved in a domestic dispute where his wife was arrested. Officers arrived at the Fauria home at about 9 a.m. Tuesday after being contacted about a potential assault and found Christian Fauria pulled over on the side of the road in his Cadillac Escalade. Rhonda Fauria was later arrested after her husband showed officers scratches on his face and chest and a bruise on his shin.

The couple is currently separated, according to the police report. They have been married for 13 years.