Christopher Royal

Christopher Winmond Royal (born January 19, 1983) is a former American football quarterback and defensive back and current recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Lindenwood Lions Football Program. He is also the current franchise leader for interceptions for the Tulsa Talons as well as the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Pioneers Arena Football Teams.

Born the son of Pearl Royal, Christopher attended South Lakes High School for 4 years, and Fork Union Military Academy for 1 year, where he played football and also lettered three years in track. He posted 3,050 career passing yards over two seasons with 38 touchdown passes, while rushing for 689 yards and 12 scores. He broke school records for passing yards in a game (304 with three TDs), as well as for passing yards in a season (1,600) and was named All-District as a quarterback following his junior and senior years. He was the top ranked quarterback and defensive back in the Northern Region of Virginia and was ranked statistically as the No. 2 quarterback in the state. He led the state in interceptions with eight his senior year, when he was selected team captain and was team offensive player of the year. As a defensive player, he recorded 47 tackles and 21 knockdowns as a senior. He was also an All-District performer in track and field, competing in the 200-meter dash, 100-meter dash, triple jump, long jump, high jump, 55-meter dash, 55-meter hurdles, 110 meter hurdles, and 300-meter hurdles. He was also an honor roll student during his senior year.

Chris attended Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. There he played as a defensive back despite his stellar career as a high school quarterback. As a junior in 2004, Chris led the Mid-American Conference with 6 interceptions. This also made him 2nd in the NCAA for interceptions.

Chris was invited to (NFL) Washington Redskins Rookie Minicamp in 2006. He was the 2007 Spalding Rookie of the Year for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of the AF2, after leading the league in interceptions with 14 regular season and 2 post season (3 total touchdowns). He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd.

After being traded from the Iowa Barnstormers and not playing in the first four games of the season, Chris ended up second in the league in interceptions with 11, while playing for the Tulsa Talons of the AFL. Royal currently holds franchise records for the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Pioneers and the Tulsa Talons for Interceptions.

Chris Royal is the older brother of Chicago Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal.