A St. Louis native, Paul Christman starred at the University of Missouri, where he led the Tigers to a 20–8 record over three seasons as starting quarterback, earned two All-American selections, and led the nation in touchdown passes in 1940. His jersey number 44 was retired by the school, and he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1956. Drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the second round of the 1941 NFL Draft, Christman became the anchor of one of the most celebrated backfields in NFL history, joining halfbacks Charley Trippi and Elmer Angsman and fullback Pat Harder in owner Charles Bidwill’s “Million Dollar Backfield.”

Christman’s finest season came in 1947, when he threw for 2,191 yards and 17 touchdowns as the Cardinals went 9–3 and punched their ticket to the NFL Championship Game. Though his numbers in the title game were modest, the Cardinals held on for a 28–21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, their first championship in two decades. Over six seasons in Chicago, Christman threw for more than 6,700 yards and 53 touchdowns before being traded to the Green Bay Packers prior to the 1950 season.

After his playing career, Christman built a distinguished second career in broadcasting, becoming one of the most recognizable voices in football. He called Cardinals games for CBS, college football for ABC alongside Curt Gowdy, and AFL games before joining NBC, where he and Gowdy called Super Bowl I in January 1967. He also called multiple Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl games. Christman passed away in Lake Forest, Illinois, in March 1970.