Keisean Nixon

Last updated

Keisean Nixon
Keisean Nixon by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Nixon in 2023
No. 25 – Green Bay Packers
Position: Cornerback
Return specialist
Personal information
Born: (1997-06-22) June 22, 1997 (age 27)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school: Salesian
(Los Angeles, California)
College: Arizona Western (2015–2016)
South Carolina (2017–2018)
Undrafted: 2019
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles:229
Sacks:3.5
Forced fumbles:4
Fumble recoveries:2
Pass deflections:16
Interceptions:3
Return yards:2,686
Return touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Keisean Nixon (born June 22, 1997) is an American professional football cornerback and return specialist for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arizona Western before transferring to South Carolina, and was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

Contents

Early years

Nixon grew up in Compton, California and attended Salesian High School in Los Angeles, where he ran track and played running back and cornerback on the football team. He missed a large portion of his senior season due to a broken collarbone. [1]

College career

Nixon in college at South Carolina in 2018 Keisean Nixon.jpg
Nixon in college at South Carolina in 2018

Nixon began his collegiate career at Arizona Western College. As a freshman, he made 36 tackles with five interceptions and four pass breakups and was named a second-team All-NJCAA All-American as a sophomore after intercepting six passes (two returned for touchdowns) with five pass breakups and two kicks returned for touchdowns. [2] Nixon transferred to the University of South Carolina for the final two years of his NCAA eligibility. [3]

Nixon played mostly on special teams and as a reserve defensive back in his first season at South Carolina, playing in all 12 of the Gamecocks games with a fumble recovery and an interception. As a senior, Nixon started 11 games and led the team with nine passes broken up and finished third with 63 tackles. [4]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 10+1⁄4 in
(1.78 m)		196 lb
(89 kg)		30+3⁄4 in
(0.78 m)		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		4.42 s1.56 s2.60 s4.52 s7.28 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		10 ft 0 in
(3.05 m)		10 reps
All values from Pro Day [5]

Oakland / Las Vegas Raiders

Nixon signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. [6] He made his NFL debut on September 9, 2019, against the Denver Broncos. [7] Nixon finished his rookie season with 12 tackles, one pass defended and three kickoffs returned for 63 yards in 14 games played. [8]

On September 2, 2021, Nixon was placed on injured reserve. [9] He was activated on October 9. [10]

Green Bay Packers

2022

Nixon signed with the Green Bay Packers on March 26, 2022. [11]

On September 25, 2022, in his second game on the active roster for the Packers, Nixon recorded seven combined tackles and one forced fumble in a Week 3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [12]

Though Nixon saw defensive snaps throughout the 2022 season, the Packers began to utilize him more often as a return specialist in October. Beginning on October 16 during a Week 6 loss to the New York Jets, Nixon returned 35 kickoffs for 1,009 yards (with five returns of 50 yards or more), the only player in the NFL to record more than 1,000 yards that year. [13] On January 1, 2023, Nixon returned a kickoff 105 yards for his first NFL touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings, swinging the game's momentum in the Packers' favor and propelling them to a 41–17 victory that kept their playoff hopes alive. [14] He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. [15] Nixon finished the season as the NFL's leading kick returner, and was named a first-team member of the 2022 All-Pro Team at that position, receiving 44 out of 50 first-place votes. [16]

2023

On March 15, 2023, Nixon re-signed with the Packers on a 1-year $4 million contract. [17]

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters during the offseason that he was exploring ways to utilize Nixon on the offensive side of the ball. [18] Nixon worked through some individual drills with the offense during training camp; [19] he finally saw his first action as an offensive player on September 24, 2023, during a Week 3 win over the New Orleans Saints, recording one carry for 11 yards. [20] Nixon got his second career interception when he picked off Patrick Mahomes during a 27–19 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 13. [21] He was named to the 2023 All-Pro Team. [22] In the Wild Card playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, Nixon led the team with 11 combined tackles while getting his first career sack on a Dak Prescott scramble, which knocked the Cowboys out of field goal range. [23] The following week against the San Francisco 49ers, Nixon had 5 combined tackles on defense. He also returned one of San Francisco's kickoffs for 73 yards midway through the third quarter, but fumbled the football. It was ultimately recovered by teammate Eric Wilson. [24] The Packers lost the game 24–21.

2024

Nixon signed a 3-year, $18 million contract extension on March 15, 2024, keeping him in Green Bay through the 2026 season. [25] On March 26, the NFL announced that kickoffs during the 2024 season would be modified in a trial for new, safer kickoff rules that may also allow for more exciting kickoff returns as Nixon looks to defend his position as the league leader in kickoff return yardage for a second consecutive season. [26]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer-high

Regular season

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsKick returnsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstTFLSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2019 OAK 1401212000.01000.00036321.026000
2020 LV 151149500.00000.0003217.018000
2021 LV 111127500.00000.000000.00000
2022 GB 1742318510.02111.010351,00928.8105T110
2023 GB 171380592130.56122.0203078226.151002
2024 GB 171588612783.0711616.01601852829.343030
Career913422916663123.5163196.3160892,40327.0105T142
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Postseason

YearTeamGamesTacklesInterceptionsKick returnsFumbles
GPGSCmbSoloAstTFLSckPDIntYdsAvgLngTDRetYdsAvgLngTDFFFR
2021 LV 1020200.00000.000000.00000
2023 GB 211610611.02000.00029748.573000
2024 GB 1021100.00000.00049523.828000
Career412011911.02000.000619232.073000
Source: pro-football-reference.com

Personal life

Throughout the first four years of Nixon's NFL career, rumors persisted that he was the nephew of rapper Snoop Dogg. [27] [28] [29] However, Nixon told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 2022 that, while he did play in Snoop's nonprofit Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) in high school, they are not actually related. [30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Selected as a kick returner

Related Research Articles

The second AFL–NFL World Championship Game was an American football game played on January 14, 1968, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. The National Football League (NFL)'s defending champion Green Bay Packers defeated American Football League (AFL) champion Oakland Raiders by the score of 33–14. This game and the following year's are the only two Super Bowls played in the same stadium in consecutive seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXXII</span> 1998 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl XXXII was an American football game played between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion and defending Super Bowl XXXI champion Green Bay Packers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1997 season. The Broncos defeated the Packers by the score of 31–24. The game was played on January 25, 1998, at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California, the second time that the Super Bowl was held in that city. Super Bowl XXXII also made Qualcomm Stadium the only stadium in history to host both the Super Bowl and the World Series in the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Woodson</span> American football player (born 1976)

Charles Cameron Woodson is an American former professional football player who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers. He spent his first 14 seasons as a cornerback and his final four as a safety. Woodson played college football for the Michigan Wolverines, three times selected to the All-Big Ten team, twice earning All-American honors. As a junior in 1997, he was a national champion and the first defensive player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julius Peppers</span> American football player (born 1980)

Julius Frazier Peppers is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels, where he was recognized as a unanimous All-American, and was selected by the Carolina Panthers second overall in the 2002 NFL draft, and also played for the Chicago Bears from 2010 through 2013 and the Green Bay Packers from 2014 to 2016. After rejoining the Panthers for the 2017 season, he retired after the 2018 NFL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Collins</span> American football player (born 1983)

Nicholas Cordell Collins is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. Collins led the league in interceptions returned for touchdowns and interception return yards in the 2008 season. In Super Bowl XLV, he intercepted Ben Roethlisberger for a touchdown as the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31–25.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Weems</span> American football player (born 1985)

Eric Grimes Weems is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver, special teamer, and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune–Cookman Wildcats and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He also played for the Chicago Bears and Tennessee Titans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Cook</span> American football player (born 1987)

Jared Alan Cook is an American former professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herb Adderley</span> American gridiron football player (1939–2020)

Herbert Anthony Adderley was an American professional football cornerback who played for the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). In 1980, he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordarrelle Patterson</span> American football player (born 1991)

Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed "Flash", is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, kickoff returner, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micah Hyde (American football)</span> Former American football player (born 1990)

Micah Richmond Hyde is an American former professional football safety who played in National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft. After four years in Green Bay, Hyde signed with the Bills, where he would form one half of an effective safety tandem with Jordan Poyer. Hyde received All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors for his play in Buffalo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">J. K. Scott</span> American football player (born 1995)

John Kimball Scott III is an American professional football punter for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. He has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jakeem Grant</span> American football player (born 1992)

Jakeem Grant Sr. is an American professional football wide receiver and return specialist. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL draft and has also played for the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He played college football at Texas Tech, where he set their all-time record for receiving yards. On December 12, 2021, Grant broke the Bears' franchise record for longest punt return for a touchdown by scoring on a 97-yard punt return in a game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The return is the tenth longest punt returned for a touchdown in NFL history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deebo Samuel</span> American football player (born 1996)

Tyshun Raequan "Deebo" Samuel Sr. is an American professional football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks and was selected by the 49ers in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft. In 2021, he was selected to the Pro Bowl and received first-team All-Pro honors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Jacobs</span> American football player (born 1998)

Joshua Cordell Jacobs is an American professional football running back for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. Jacobs rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons, while being named to NFL All-Rookie Team in 2019 and to his first Pro Bowl in 2020. In 2022, he led the league in rushing yards with 1,653 and became the first Raider since 1985 to surpass 2,000 scrimmage yards. After five years with the Raiders, Jacobs signed with the Packers in 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Pollard</span> American football player (born 1997)

Tony Randall Pollard is an American professional football running back for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Memphis, and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darnell Savage</span> American football player (born 1997)

Darnell Henry Savage Jr. is an American professional football safety for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashad Fenton</span> American football player (born 1997)

Rashad Fenton is an American professional football cornerback. He played college football at South Carolina. He was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Beck (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Andrew Beck is an American professional football fullback. He played college football at Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amari Rodgers</span> American football player (born 1999)

Amari Jai Rodgers is an American professional football wide receiver for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Clemson and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft. He has also played for the Houston Texans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quay Walker</span> American football player (born 2000)

JaQuavian Jy'Quese "Quay" Walker is an American professional football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft.

References

  1. ↑ Tully, Jeff (November 19, 2014). "Burbank football battered, but still standing in playoffs". Burbank Leader . Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Gamecocks Ink Two JUCO Defensive Backs". Live5News.com . December 16, 2016. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  3. ↑ Floyd, Thomas (August 28, 2017). "JUCO transfer Keisean Nixon to make an immediate impact for South Carolina". Garnet and Black Attack. SB Nation. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  4. ↑ Cook, Joe (April 28, 2019). "Tigers and Gamecocks receive free agent deals after NFL Draft". WLTX.com. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  5. ↑ "2019 Draft Scout Keisean Nixon, South Carolina NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  6. ↑ Breiner, Ben (April 27, 2019). "Gamecocks' Keisean Nixon headed back to west coast to start NFL career". The State . Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  7. ↑ Bair, Scott (September 10, 2019). "Raiders snap count: Darren Waller moved all around, never left field". NBC Sports Bay Area . Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  8. ↑ Del Bianco, John (March 16, 2020). "NFL Gamecocks: Who is a free agent, who is under contract". 247Sports.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Raiders announce practice squad additions". Raiders.com. September 2, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Arnette, Mullen Jr. and Carrier placed on IR". Raiders.com. October 9, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Packers sign CB Keisean Nixon". packers.com. March 26, 2022. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – September 25th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ Kruse, Zach (January 13, 2023). "Packers kickoff returner Keisean Nixon named first-team All-Pro in 2022". USA Today. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Rodgers, Packers rout Vikings 41–17, control playoff fate". ESPN. Associated Press. January 1, 2023. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. ↑ Smith, Coral (January 4, 2023). "Buccaneers WR Mike Evans, Chargers RB Austin Ekeler lead Players of the Week". National Football League. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ Kruse, Zach (January 13, 2023). "Packers kickoff returner Keisean Nixon named first-team All-Pro in 2022". USA Today. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Packers re-sign CB Keisean Nixon, TE Tyler Davis". packers.com. March 15, 2023. Retrieved March 15, 2023.
  18. ↑ Kruse, Zach (March 28, 2023). "Packers open to using All-Pro returner Keisean Nixon on offense in 2023". PackersWire. USAToday.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  19. ↑ Bretl, Paul (July 29, 2023). "Keisean Nixon working with Packers offense in individual drills". Dairyland Express. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  20. ↑ Huber, Bill (September 24, 2023). "Live Updates: Green Bay Packers vs. New Orleans Saints". Packer Central. SI.com. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Packers 27-19 Chiefs (Dec 3, 2023) Game Recap". ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  22. ↑ "2023 NFL All-Pro Team Roster". AP News. January 12, 2024. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Packers 48-32 Cowboys (Jan 14, 2024) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  24. ↑ "49ers 24-21 Packers (Jan 20, 2024) Play-by-Play". ESPN. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Packers re-sign CB Keisean Nixon and RB AJ Dillon". Packers.com. March 15, 2024.
  26. ↑ "New NFL Kickoff Rule | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. March 26, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  27. ↑ Martin, Kyle (August 25, 2019). "Undrafted rookie Keisean Nixon continues to flourish in preseason competition". Raiders.com. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  28. ↑ Wilde, Jason (March 26, 2022). "Packers add ex-Raiders cornerback Keisean Nixon, Snoop Dogg's nephew and — they hope — a key special-teams addition". KenoshaNews.com. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  29. ↑ "2022 NFL season's top 10 return specialists: Keisean Nixon, Nyheim Hines lead the group". National Football League. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  30. ↑ Kuhagen, Christopher (January 6, 2023). "Keisean Nixon is the Packers' new electrifying kickoff returner. Here's what you should know about him, including his connection to Snoop Dogg". JSOnline.com. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.