Very few pilots can claim that they have their own Wikipedia page or an NFL trading card, but Jet Linx Tulsa Pilot Bob Christian is no ordinary pilot.

From his record-breaking collegiate football career at Northwestern to his 11-year NFL career, including a Super Bowl appearance, Christian still somehow finds time to play nearly half a dozen musical instruments – and at one time even helped build the modern cellular network serving Charlotte, North Carolina.

In this edition of Across the Airwaves we explore how Christian found himself in Tulsa as a Jet Linx pilot and how his former career as an athlete prepared him to succeed in the cockpit, and much more.

tell us about your background.

I was born and raised in Florissant, Missouri, in the St. Louis area. I attended Northwestern University on a football scholarship and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering. As for my family, I have four kids total – three girls and one son. My wife, Robin, is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is where we’ve settled and made our home base these days. My wife’s family is nearby and that has been a blessing.

prior to becoming a pilot, you spent 11 seasons in the nfl. can you talk about your career as a professional athlete?

Even though I earned an athletic scholarship to play in college, I never really presumed I would be able to play football professionally. That changed during my sophomore year at Northwestern when my coach, Randy Walker, told me that I had what it takes to play in the NFL. That blew my mind because I knew Coach Walker had coached players who had gone on to successful NFL careers before, and at the time I wasn’t even the starting running back. From that moment on, I set out to live up to Coach Walker’s belief in me. 

But the path forward wasn’t straight and level. Despite working harder than I thought possible, during my four years in college we only won six games. Battling discouragement while at church one Sunday, I cried out, “It’s not fair!” because of the amount of work we put in for the mounting stack of losses. I was reminded how many young people would do anything to be in my shoes – playing Division I football in the Big Ten, breaking rushing records, having a full-ride scholarship, even just being able to walk.

This changed my perspective and taught me to be thankful for every day I had, and to use the tools I’ve been given to try to do something good in the world. With this renewed perspective and energy, I ended up setting records at Northwestern (since broken) for career rushing, single-season rushing, and single-game all-purpose yards. While my team was not successful, I was regarded by the experts as a middle-round draft pick. I ended up not getting selected until the 12th round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. I was released from the team before the season started.  Afterwards, I also tried out and was released by the London Monarchs and the San Diego Chargers before (by nothing less than a miracle) the Chicago Bears picked me up on their practice squad. I ended up playing for the Chicago Bears for three seasons, mostly on special teams. In 1995 when the league expanded, I was drafted to the Carolina Panthers. There I had the opportunity to start about half the time and scored the first touchdown in Panthers franchise history during the 1995 Hall of Fame game. After two seasons with Carolina, I was signed by Dan Reeves to be his starting fullback for the Atlanta Falcons.

In total I played 11 years in the NFL and helped the 1998 Falcons reach the Super Bowl. That same year, I was named the league’s best fullback by Sports Illustrated. Although I was injured in the 14th game of the season before the playoffs, eventually losing the Super Bowl to John Elway and the Broncos, I have many, many good memories of that Falcons team. We were very close – like a family. I eventually retired at the end of the 2002-2003 season – playing much longer than I had ever planned on. I am eternally grateful for the experience of playing in the NFL, with all its ups and downs, failures and successes, pain and joy. It has taught me all kinds of lessons that I still apply today as a pilot.

when did your interest in aviation begin?

Ever since I was a little kid, I had always wanted to fly. We grew up not too far from the St Louis airport and we would often see planes flying overhead.  I would find myself dreaming of being in control of one of those planes. When I was a bit older I dreamed up all kinds of crazy flying machine contraptions and ways to get off the ground. The whole idea of flight, it was like the ultimate adventure to my young mind. Air travel back then was not a common a mode of transportation – at least not for my family. We’d just pack up and drive for days to our destinations, seeing the sights along the way. I think the rarity of air travel was part of the allure for me back then.

can you tell us about your career path before coming to jet linx?

My career path was a bit of a winding road before I landed here at Jet Linx. At the end of my NFL career, I started working on my private pilot certificate and took my check ride just after officially retiring. I bought a plane, got my instrument rating and started flying all over the country with my wife. I knew in my heart, I wanted to fly airplanes more than anything else but worried I couldn’t be the kind of husband or father I wanted to be if I was a pilot. I ended up in Chicago working alongside my brother in his sports performance business, training athletes looking to pursue professional careers. This was a great transition out of my playing career, but deep down, I longed for the opportunity (and excuse) to fly more than I was able to.

In 2014, I made the trek out to Oshkosh for AirVenture and being surrounded by that atmosphere and energy, I knew aviation was simply something I had to make a part of my life going forward. So, with my wife’s blessing, we pulled up stakes and relocated to Tulsa to be closer to her family’s support system. That way, I could really buckle down and focus on starting a new career, knowing she and my children would have the help of extended family if I had to focus on an upcoming check ride or be away on a trip.

Upon landing in Tulsa, I added my commercial and flight instructor certifications to my portfolio and flew for a while at a small charter company while getting my flight hours up. After gaining more experience I flew private contract gigs in a Citation CJ for a couple years, just really trying to soak up as much experience as I could. In 2022, I applied at Jet Linx for the third time (I had previously applied while instructing and after being furloughed during the pandemic). Finally, the stars aligned, and they had the right opening at the right time! I feel so fortunate to be a part of this team and getting to do what I love every day.

what do you enjoy most about working for jet linx?

At Jet Linx, it’s the remarkable cultural stability and integrity that really defines this organization from top to bottom. The core values (integrity, dedication, selflessness, compassion, and enthusiasm) aren’t just fancy words on a wall. They’re embodied and actively lived out each day. All of those values are so critical to the work we do.

Another thing I love is the team-first culture. There’s a humble selflessness that forms this real family-like bond. We have pilots, we have admin staff, we have accountants – but we all work together daily. We’ve got each other’s backs, we pull together, we support one another. That camaraderie and trust – you can’t put a price on it. And it breeds excellence and accountability too – nobody wants to let their family down by dropping the ball. I guess you could say Jet Linx just has this undeniable heartbeat that I’m so grateful to be a part of.

what are your thoughts on the safety culture at jet linx?

In my experience, Jet Linx’s commitment to upholding the highest safety standards is really second to none. You can just feel the emphasis on safety woven through every single layer of our operation. It’s not just preached from the leadership, it’s actively practiced and instilled at every single level. The message is clear – if there’s ever a situation where safety could potentially be compromised, you make the call to protect safety. No questions asked. No waffling. You have the unequivocal backing to do the safe and prudent thing.

Too many operators pay lip service to safety, but then situational pressure causes them to take unnecessary risks. That’s just not the way Jet Linx operates – it’s a true safety culture here. Let me tell you, that peace of mind is priceless when you’re a pilot carrying that level of responsibility. I sleep well at night knowing that there’s a real safety net in place here.

what aircraft are you typed on and how many flight hours do you have?

I’m typed in the Cessna 525 series, so the Citation Jet line, as well as the Cessna 560XL/XLS/XLS+ models. I also have quite a bit of time in Piaggios. In total I have just north of 4,500 hours in the air under my belt. Still a lot of learning and growing to do, but I’m thankful for the experience I’ve been able to accumulate so far.

do you have a favorite aircraft to fly or any unique models you’ve piloted?

Well I haven’t flown my favorite plane yet but my big retirement fantasy is to construct myself an Aircam – just this perfect little two-engine sightseeing machine. It has this unique open-air canoe-style design where you’re seated way out front of the wing for these magnificent panoramic views in every direction. I took a factory tour in Florida and got to fly in one – and it is just a very pure, bare-bones flying experience. I would love to build one and sightsee with it.

what has been your most memorable flight experience to date?

One of my most memorable flights was taking an NFL head coach (whom I had played against) and his wife home to California after the season ended. The coach’s wife insisted we stay at their home instead of a hotel. I enjoyed the camaraderie and being reunited with another member of the “football fraternity.”

are you involved in any aviation organizations?

I am a member of Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), and I try to stay actively involved with the local EAA chapter based at Gundy’s Airport near my home.

what are some things most people don’t know about you?

I interned at Alltell Mobile during the offseason when I played for the Carolina Panthers. I knew that a career in the NFL could end at any time and didn’t want my degree to go to waste, so I worked in the Engineering department helping to design the cellular phone network in Charlotte. That was interesting work, but it also reconfirmed to me that outside of the NFL, I wanted to pursue aviation.

I am also an amateur musician. I play the piano, guitar, trumpet, and a unique folk instrument called the hammered dulcimer. While I was playing for the Panthers, I was hiking in the Appalachians and I just happened to come upon someone playing it. That person gave me an impromptu lesson which encouraged me to buy one and learn how to play it.

what is your advice to a younger version of yourself or other aspiring aviators?

My advice to my younger self would be don’t lead with your head, lead with your heart. I regret being hesitant and overly analytical when it came to pursuing my aviation dreams earlier in life. I wish I had been more willing to take advantage of opportunities and not stuck in “paralysis by analysis.” My advice is to have the courage to passionately follow your heart in your career path while still being discerning with your mind. You can overcome obstacles if you love what you do.