Derrie Nelson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1958)}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Derrie Nelson
| number = 55
| position = Linebacker
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 236
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|2|8}}
| birth_place = York, Nebraska, U.S.
| high_school = Fairmont (NE)
| college = Nebraska
| draftyear = 1981
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 108
| teams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1981}})*
- Cleveland Browns (1981)*
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|1982}}–{{NFL Year|1986}})
| highlights =
- First-team All-American (1980)
- Big Eight Defensive Player of the Year (1980)
- 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1979, 1980)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 48
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 1
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 = 1
| pfr = NelsDe21
}}
Derald Lawrence Nelson (born February 8, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Early life
Nelson attended Fairmont Public School where he received All-State honors in football. He also lettered in baseball as a pitcher.
He walked on at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He became a starter for the Cornhuskers at the stand-up defensive end position as a sophomore, registering 42 tackles (20 solo), 3 fumble recoveries, one interception and one blocked punt. The next year, he recorded 58 tackles (34 solo), 2 fumble recoveries and 2 passes defensed.
As a senior, he was the captain of a defense that gave up an average of only 9.1 points per game. He finished with 57 tackles (42 solo), 2 fumble recoveries and one pass defensed.
In 1998, he was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
Nelson was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 1981 NFL draft, with the intention of playing him at linebacker. He was waived on August 3.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19810804&id=WxwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5058,4663442 | title=Cowboys Release Seven; Cut Date Growing Nearer| access-date=February 19, 2023}}
=Cleveland Browns=
On August 21, 1981, he signed with the Cleveland Browns as a free agent. He was released before the start of the season.
=San Diego Chargers=
In 1982, he signed as a free agent with the San Diego Chargers, but suffered an injury during preseason and was placed on the injured reserve list on August 30.{{cite web| url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/08/31/Tuesdays-Sports-Transactions/8857399614400/ | title=Tuesday's Sports Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2023}} The next year, he became a special teams standout. He was voted Chargers special teams player of the year by his teammates in 1983 and 1985.
On August 20, 1984, he was placed on the injured reserve list.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19840821&id=NVhOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=thMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5739,6297714 | title=Steelers place Harris on waivers | access-date=February 19, 2023}} He was activated on November 9 and was able to play in six games.{{cite web| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19841110&id=yC1SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CDYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1143,2284567 | title=Transactions | access-date=February 19, 2023}} Nelson was released on August 29, 1987.{{cite web| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-30-sp-4964-story.html | title=Veterans Leonard, Flick, Nelson Waived : Eighteen Players Cut; Roster to Be Reduced From 67 to 60 by Tuesday | access-date=February 19, 2023}}
Personal life
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/season/1980/player/derrie-nelson Nebraska bio]
{{Cowboys1981DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Derrie}}
Category:People from York, Nebraska
Category:Players of American football from Nebraska
Category:American football linebackers