Keith Nord

Keith Sterling Nord (March 3, 1957 – September 19, 2018) was an American professional football defensive back in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1979 to 1985.

Early life Nord was born on 13 March 1957 in Minnetonka, Minnesota. As a teenager, Nord played football for Minnetonka High School.

Career 1975-1979: Collegiate football career Nord played college football at St. Cloud State University. He was a member of the All-Conference and District 13 team, and a four-time letterwinner in football. During his senior season in 1979, he was voted both team captain and most valuable player.

1979-1985: NFL career In the 1979 NFL Draft, Nord went undrafted. Vikings coach Bud Grant took note of Nord's success, and, in the 1983 season, he was named special teams captain. He was the first Minnesota native to earn that honor. During that season, Nord got both an interception and a sack. His season ended early that year, as both Nord and his teammate Tommy Kramer suffered torn ligaments during the September 18 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and required season-ending surgeries. In 1985, he was voted by his peers to be the Vikings' recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

In the late 2000s, publicity around the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) on former NFL athletes became widespread. Nord was one of nearly 4,500 former NFL players that sued the NFL in 2012 for their role in players' heavy brain damage. The case was eventually settled for $765 million the following year.

Nord died of stomach cancer on 19 September 2018.