Dennis Nelson

Dennis Ray Nelson (born February 9, 1946) is an American former professional football player who was a tackle for seven seasons with the Baltimore Colts and the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

Nelson was a four-year football letter winner playing college football for the Illinois State Redbirds. He was a first-team Little All-American pick by the Associated Press on offense in 1968, a two-way all-conference tackle, and was selected in the third round of the 1969 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts.

Nelson spent all of the 1969 season on the Colts' "taxi squad", only making the regular season roster in 1970 season. After playing in 1970 and 1971 in a reserve role,

The right tackle was made expendable in January 1975, however, when the Colts obtained perennial Pro Bowler George Kunz from the Atlanta Falcons as part of a trade for the number 1 overall pick in the 1975 NFL draft. Nelson reacted with disappointment to the news, threatening retirement rather than being cast into a battle for the starting left tackle job with his close friend, teammate David Taylor.

Nelson was traded to the Washington Redskins for draft choices on August 21, 1975, but the deal was cancelled when he refused to report to the Redskins, and his contract rights reverted to Baltimore.

Nelson was a member of the Colts' Super Bowl V winning team.

He had his jersey retired by ISU on October 10, 1995.