Mike Nelms

No. 21

Position:

Defensive back / Kick returner / Punt returner

Personal information

Date of birth:

April 8, 1955

Place of birth:

Fort Worth, Texas

Career information

College:

Baylor

NFL Draft:

1977 / Round: 7 / Pick: 170

Career history

Career highlights and awards

CFL All-Star (1979)
3× Pro Bowl selection (1980, 81, 82)
Super Bowl champion (XVII)
NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
70 Greatest Redskins

Career NFL statistics

Kickoff return yards:	4,128
Punt return yards:	1,948
Touchdowns:	2
Player stats at NFL.com

Michael Craig Nelms (born April 8, 1955) is a former American football defensive back and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL) who played five seasons with the Washington Redskins from 1980 to 1984. Before his NFL career, Nelms played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played college football at Baylor University.

College career

Mike Nelms began his college career at Sam Houston State in 1973.^[1]

Professional career

Nelms began his professional career after being drafted by the Buffalo Bills. He was the last cut in training camp.^[2] He then signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL in 1977.^[3] Later that year, he was optioned to the Ottawa Rough Riders.^[4]

Nelms is a three time Pro Bowler in 1980, 1981 and 1982. He led the NFL in yards per kickoff return twice (1981, 1982) and was the Redskins starting punt returner in Super Bowl XVII. In Super Bowl XVII, he returned six punts for 52 yards, both Super Bowl records, along with two kickoff returns for 44 yards.

Nelms finished his five seasons with 175 kickoff returns for 4,128 yards, 212 punt returns for 1,948 yards and two touchdowns, and one interception in 68 games.

After Football

Mike used to own Champion Chevrolet Toyota in Culpeper, Virginia.^[5] His son, Kirkland, received a scholarship to play at University of Massachusetts Amherst.^[6] Nelms also has three daughters, who each went on to play collegiate athletics, including Kurstin Nelms, who ran track for Columbia University.^[7]

References

External links

Washington Redskins Super Bowl XVII champions

3 Mark Moseley 5 Jeff Hayes 7 Joe Theismann 8 Bob Holly 17 Tom Owen 20 Joe Lavender 21 Mike Nelms 22 Curtis Jordan 23 Tony Peters 25 Joe Washington 29 Mark Murphy 30 Nick Giaquinto 32 Vernon Dean 38 Clarence Harmon 39 Otis Wonsley 40 Wilbur Jackson 44 John Riggins (MVP) 45 Jeris White 46 LeCharls McDaniel 47 Greg Williams 50 Larry Kubin 51 Monte Coleman 52 Neal Olkewicz 53 Jeff Bostic 54 Peter Cronan 55 Mel Kaufman 56 Quentin Lowry 57 Rich Milot 58 Stuart Anderson 62 Donald Laster 63 Fred Dean 65 Dave Butz 66 Joe Jacoby 68 Russ Grimm 69 Perry Brooks 71 Garry Puetz 72 Dexter Manley 73 Mark May 74 George Starke 75 Pat Ogrin 76 Mat Mendenhall 77 Darryl Grant 78 Tony McGee 79 Todd Liebenstein 80 Virgil Seay 81 Art Monk 82 Rich Caster 84 Mike Williams 85 Don Warren 86 Clint Didier 87 Charlie Brown 88 Rick Walker 89 Alvin Garrett

Head coach: Joe Gibbs

Coaches: Don Breaux Joe Bugel Dan Henning Larry Peccatiello Richie Petitbon Wayne Sevier Warren Simmons Charley Taylor LaVern Torgeson

National Football League | NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team

70 Greatest Redskins

21 Terry Allen RB 1995–98
41 Mike Bass CB 1969–75
20 Cliff Battles B 1932–37
33 Sammy Baugh QB 1937–52
31 Don Bosseler B 1957–64
53 Jeff Bostic C 1980–93
4 Mike Bragg P 1968–79
80 Gene Brito DE 1951–53, 1955–58
43 Larry Brown RB 1969–76
77 Bill Brundige DE 1970–77
65 Dave Butz DT 1975–88
21 Earnest Byner RB 1989–93
84 Gary Clark WR 1985–92
51 Monte Coleman LB 1979–94
53 Al DeMao C 1945–53
36 Chuck Drazenovich LB 1950–59
35 Bill Dudley RB 1950–51, 1953
17 Turk Edwards T 1932–40
44 Andy Farkas FB 1938–44
37 Pat Fischer CB 1968–77
28 Darrell Green CB 1983–2002
68 Russ Grimm G 1981–91
55 Chris Hanburger LB 1965–78
57 Ken Harvey LB 1994–98
56 Len Hauss C 1964–77
27 Ken Houston S 1973–80
70 Sam Huff LB 1964–67, 1969
66 Joe Jacoby T/G 1981–93
47 Dick James RB 1955–63
9 Sonny Jurgensen QB 1964–74
22 Charlie Justice RB 1950, 1952–54
17 Billy Kilmer QB 1971–78
26 Paul Krause DB 1964–67
79 Jim Lachey T 1988–95
14 Eddie LeBaron QB 1952–53, 1955–59
72 Dexter Manley DE 1981–89
71 Charles Mann DE 1983–93
58 Wilber Marshall LB 1988–92
73 Mark May T 1981–89
79 Ron McDole DE 1971–78
63 Raleigh McKenzie G 1985–94
53 Harold McLinton LB 1969–78
40 Wayne Millner E 1936–41, 1945
49 Bobby Mitchell FL 1962–68
30 Brian Mitchell RB 1990–99
81 Art Monk WR 1980–93
3 Mark Moseley K 1974–86
29 Mark Murphy S 1977–84
21 Mike Nelms KR 1980–84
52 Neal Olkewicz LB 1979–89
23 Brig Owens LB 1966–77
65 Vince Promuto G 1960–70
44 John Riggins RB 1976–79, 1981–85
11 Mark Rypien QB 1987–93
83 Ricky Sanders WR 1986–93
76 Ed Simmons T 1987–93
87 Jerry Smith TE 1965–77
60 Dick Stanfel G 1956–58
74 George Starke T 1973–84
72 Diron Talbert DT 1971–80
84 Hugh (Bones) Taylor E 1947–54
42 Charley Taylor WR 1964–77
7 Joe Theismann QB 1974–85
67 Rusty Tillman LB 1970–77
85 Don Warren TE 1979–92
25 Joe Washington RB 1981–84
17 Doug Williams QB 1986–89

Coaches

George Allen Head Coach 1971–77
Ray Flaherty Head Coach 1936–42
Joe Gibbs Head Coach 1981–92

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