# Derrie Nelson

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**Derald Lawrence Nelson** (born February 8, 1958) is an American former professional [football](/source/American_football) player who was a [linebacker](/source/Linebacker) for the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers) of the [National Football League](/source/National_Football_League) (NFL). He played [college football](/source/College_football) for the [Nebraska Cornhuskers](/source/Nebraska_Cornhuskers_football).

## Early life

Nelson attended Fairmont Public School where he received All-State honors in football. He also lettered in [baseball](/source/Baseball) as a [pitcher](/source/Pitcher).

He [walked on](/source/Walk-on_(sports)) at the [University of Nebraska–Lincoln](/source/University_of_Nebraska%E2%80%93Lincoln). He became a starter for the [Cornhuskers](/source/Nebraska_Cornhuskers_football) at the stand-up [defensive end](/source/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](/source/Dallas_Cowboys) in the fourth round (108th overall) of the [1981 NFL draft](/source/1981_NFL_draft), with the intention of playing him at [linebacker](/source/Linebacker). He was waived on August 3.[1]

### Cleveland Browns

On August 21, [1981](/source/1981_NFL_season), he signed with the [Cleveland Browns](/source/Cleveland_Browns) as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent). He was released before the start of the season.

### San Diego Chargers

In [1982](/source/1982_NFL_season), he signed as a [free agent](/source/Free_agent) with the [San Diego Chargers](/source/San_Diego_Chargers), but suffered an injury during preseason and was placed on the [injured reserve list](/source/Injured_reserve_list) on August 30.[2] The next year, he became a [special teams](/source/Special_teams) standout. He was voted Chargers special teams player of the year by his teammates in [1983](/source/1983_NFL_season) and [1985](/source/1985_NFL_season).

On August 20, [1984](/source/1984_NFL_season), he was placed on the [injured reserve list](/source/Injured_reserve_list).[3] He was activated on November 9 and was able to play in six games.[4] Nelson was released on August 29, [1987](/source/1987_NFL_season).[5]

## Personal life

His uncle [Bob Cerv](/source/Bob_Cerv) was a [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [All-Star](/source/Major_League_Baseball_All-Star_Game) with the [Kansas City Athletics](/source/Kansas_City_Athletics) and the [New York Yankees](/source/New_York_Yankees).[6]

## References

1. ["Cowboys Release Seven; Cut Date Growing Nearer"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1979&dat=19810804&id=WxwyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yKoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5058,4663442). Retrieved February 19, 2023.

1. ["Tuesday's Sports Transactions"](https://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/08/31/Tuesdays-Sports-Transactions/8857399614400/). Retrieved February 19, 2023.

1. ["Steelers place Harris on waivers"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19840821&id=NVhOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=thMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5739,6297714). Retrieved February 19, 2023.

1. ["Transactions"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1915&dat=19841110&id=yC1SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CDYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1143,2284567). Retrieved February 19, 2023.

1. ["Veterans Leonard, Flick, Nelson Waived : Eighteen Players Cut; Roster to Be Reduced From 67 to 60 by Tuesday"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-30-sp-4964-story.html). Retrieved February 19, 2023.

1. "Even Though He Was Better in Baseball, Nelson Glad He Walked On in Football". University of Nebraska. October 2, 2010.

## External links

- [Nebraska bio](https://huskers.com/sports/football/roster/season/1980/player/derrie-nelson)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Derrie Nelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrie_Nelson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrie_Nelson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.