C. J. Anderson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
C. J. Anderson

Anderson with the Denver Broncos in 2014
No. 22, 20, 35, 26
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1991-02-10) February 10, 1991 (age 34) Berkeley, California, U.S.
Height:	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school:	Jesse M. Bethel (Vallejo, California)
College:	Laney (2009–2010) California (2011–2012)
Undrafted:	2013
Career history
As player:
Denver Broncos (2013–2017) Carolina Panthers (2018) Oakland Raiders (2018) Los Angeles Rams (2018) Detroit Lions (2019)
As coach:
California (2020) Volunteer assistant Danville (CA) Monte Vista HS (2021) Head coach Rice (2022) Running backs coach
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (50) Pro Bowl (2014)
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 3,497 Rushing average: 4.5 Rushing touchdowns: 22 Receptions: 108 Receiving yards: 900 Receiving touchdowns: 5
Player stats at PFR

Cortrelle Javon Anderson (born February 10, 1991) is a former American football player and current coach. He played as a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons. He is best known for his time with the Denver Broncos.

After playing college football for the California Golden Bears, C. J. Anderson joined the Broncos in 2013. He was not drafted by any team but signed with them as a free agent. With the Broncos, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl once and helped the team win Super Bowl 50. He also played in Super Bowl LIII with the Los Angeles Rams. After retiring from playing, he became a football coach.

Early Life and High School Football

C. J. Anderson grew up in Vallejo, California. He went to Jesse M. Bethel High School, where he was a star player on the football team. He played as a running back for the Jaguars.

During his high school career, Anderson ran for almost 4,000 yards. He helped his team reach the playoffs four years in a row. In 2007, as a junior, his team made it to the championship game. That year, he was named the Athlete of the Year by the Vallejo Times-Herald. He also earned MVP honors twice and was a top player in his conference.

As a junior, he ran for 1,297 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also threw for 785 yards and 11 touchdowns as a quarterback. In his senior year, he focused on playing running back. He rushed for 1,623 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also made two interceptions while playing defense. Anderson was the first player from Bethel High School to play for a Pac-12 college team.

College Football Journey

C. J. Anderson started his college football career at Laney College in Oakland, California. He was recognized as a top player there, earning first-team All-American honors.

Playing for the California Golden Bears

After Laney College, Anderson moved on to play for the University of California, Berkeley. He joined the Golden Bears team.

In 2011, as a junior, he shared the running back duties with another player. He ran for 345 yards and scored eight touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 186 yards and one touchdown. As a senior in 2012, he continued to share carries with other running backs. He rushed for 790 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 15 catches for 164 yards and one receiving touchdown.

Professional NFL Career

C. J. Anderson joined the Denver Broncos in 2013 as an undrafted free agent. This means he was not chosen in the NFL Draft but was signed by a team afterward.

Denver Broncos: A Super Bowl Champion

Anderson with the Broncos in 2013

Anderson faced a challenge to make the Broncos' roster because they had many good running backs. He made his NFL debut in October 2013. In his first season, the Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII but lost the game.

Breaking Out in 2014

In 2014, Anderson got more chances to play. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a 51-yard pass from Peyton Manning. He also had his first game with over 100 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins. Later that season, he ran for 168 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. He also scored three touchdowns in a game against the Buffalo Bills.

By the end of 2014, Anderson had 849 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. He also had 324 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. His great performance earned him a spot in the Pro Bowl.

Winning Super Bowl 50 in 2015

The 2015 season saw Anderson and Ronnie Hillman as the main running backs for the Broncos. Anderson had a big game against the New England Patriots, running for 113 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime. The Broncos finished the season with a 12–4 record.

In the playoffs, Anderson continued to play a key role. He scored the game-winning touchdown in the Divisional Round against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Broncos then won the AFC Championship against the New England Patriots.

On February 7, 2016, Anderson helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50 against the Carolina Panthers. He ran for 90 yards and scored a two-yard touchdown late in the game, helping secure the 24–10 victory.

Later Seasons with the Broncos

Anderson in 2017

After the Super Bowl win, Anderson signed a new contract with the Broncos. In 2016, he started strong but injured his knee in Week 7. He had surgery and missed the rest of the season.

In 2017, Anderson became the Broncos' main running back. He had a great season, rushing for 1,007 yards. This was his first and only season where he ran for over 1,000 yards. In April 2018, after five seasons, Anderson was released by the Broncos.

Moving to Other Teams

After leaving the Broncos, Anderson played for a few other NFL teams.

Carolina Panthers

In May 2018, Anderson signed with the Carolina Panthers. He scored his first touchdown with the Panthers on a 24-yard catch. He was released by the Panthers in November 2018.

Los Angeles Rams

Anderson then joined the Los Angeles Rams in December 2018. He had some amazing games with the Rams. In Week 16, he rushed for 167 yards and a touchdown. He followed that with 132 rushing yards in the next game.

In the playoffs, Anderson continued to shine. He ran for 123 yards and scored two touchdowns in a win against the Dallas Cowboys. The Rams then won the NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, advancing to Super Bowl LIII. In the Super Bowl, the Rams lost to the New England Patriots.

Detroit Lions

In April 2019, Anderson signed with the Detroit Lions. He played in two games before being released in September 2019.

C. J. Anderson announced his retirement from professional football on September 18, 2020.

NFL Career Statistics

Coaching Career

After retiring from playing football, C. J. Anderson began a coaching career.

• In 2020, he joined his old college team, Cal, as a volunteer assistant coach.
• In 2021, he became the head varsity football coach at Monte Vista High School in Danville, California.
• After one season at Monte Vista High School, Anderson was hired as the running backs coach at Rice in 2022. He coached there for one season.

Personal Life and Hobbies

C. J. Anderson is a big fan of the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. He also enjoys streaming video games on twitch.tv. He often plays Apex Legends during his streams.

Any money he receives from subscriptions and donations on his Twitch channel goes to his charity, The Dreams Never Die Foundation^[Usurped!]. This foundation helps young people from inner cities and low-income areas get the support they need to succeed in school or sports.

See also

In Spanish: C. J. Anderson para niños