Andy Nelson (American football)

Andrew Vaughan Nelson (born May 27, 1933) is a former American football safety in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and New York Giants. He currently owns and runs a small BBQ establishment, Andy Nelson's Barbecue.[1]

Andy Nelson
Born: (1933-05-27) May 27, 1933
Athens, Alabama, United States
Career information
Position(s)Safety
CollegeMemphis
NFL draft1957 / Round: 11 / Pick: 126
Career history
As player
1957–1963Baltimore Colts
1964New York Giants
Career highlights and awards
Career stats

Early life

Andy was born in Athens, Alabama, where his father Guy was chief pitmaster for Limestone County. He was a four-sport athlete at Athens High School playing football, basketball, track and baseball, serving as co-captain of the 1951 team and winning letters for each of his four years he completed.[2] Nelson played quarterback and defensive back for then Memphis State University. A four-year letterman (1952–1956), he gained All-American recognition in his senior season. In 1956, he led the Tigers to their first-ever bowl game, the Burley Bowl in Johnson City, Tennessee, where they were victorious over East Tennessee State.[3]

Professional career

Nelson was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the eleventh round of the 1957 NFL Draft. Having played both quarterback and defensive back in college, the Colts made him a defensive player. Nelson started 12 games his rookie season, with 5 interceptions for 29 yards. The following season, Nelson would record 8 interceptions for 199 yards and 1 touchdown. The Colts would go on to win the NFL Championship in what was the NFL's first sudden-death overtime game and has since become widely known as "The Greatest Game Ever Played". The Colts would repeat in 1959 and over his seven-year career with the Colts, Nelson would rack up 33 total interceptions for 378 yards and 3 touchdowns.[4] The Colts traded Nelson to the New York Giants for the 1964 season, his last in the NFL.

Coaching career

Nelson spent two years as a player and defensive coach with the Harrisburg Capitols of the Atlantic Coast Football League, the Colts' farm team, where he led the league in pass defense before going on to be named the head football coach. Nelson went on to become Defensive Coordinator for the Norfolk Neptunes, winning a league championship in 1971, and then the Chambersburg Cardinals of the Seaboard Football League, winning another championship in 1973. Nelson was also defensive coordinator for Philadelphia Bell in the World Football League from 1974–75.[5]

Awards

Nelson was voted into the Limestone County Hall of Fame (2003) in Alabama [6] and the Memphis State Hall of Fame (1976).[7] He was selected to the NFL's All-Pro team in 1958[8] and 1959,[9] and the NFL's Pro Bowl in 1960. He was selected by Sporting News for their 1st-Team All-NFL in 1958, 1959 and 1960.[10]

Family life

Nelson has seven children. His children mostly run the barbecue business today. Many consider it the Baltimore region's best. The restaurant dining areas are lined with Best of Baltimore magazine covers and other awards. There are also numerous football mementos and photos, and various figurines and posters of pigs.

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References
  1. Andy Nelson's Barbecue - Cockeysville, Maryland - Office Catering, Baltimore Barbecue
  2. "Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12.
  3. "Go Tigers Go - The 1956 Burley Bowl".
  4. "NFL Player Stats: Andy Nelson".
  5. "Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame". Archived from the original on 2015-08-12.
  6. "Limestone County Sports Hall Of Fame".
  7. "Memphis University: M Club Hall Of Fame". Archived from the original on 2015-03-21.
  8. "ProFootballReference.com - 1958 NFL All-Pro Team".
  9. "ProFootballReference.com - 1959 All-Pro Team".
  10. "ProFootballReference.com - 1960 Pro Bowl players".
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