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Darrin Nelson
No. #20     
Running Back/Kick Returner
Personal information
Date of birth: (1959-01-02) January 2, 1959 (age 65)
Place of birth: Sacramento, California
High School: Pius X H.S. (Downey, CA)
Career information
College: Stanford
Debuted in 1982 for the Minnesota Vikings
Last played in 1992 for the Minnesota Vikings
Career history
1982-1989 Minnesota Vikings
1989-1990 San Diego Chargers
1991-1992 Minnesota Vikings
Roster status: retired
Career highlights and awards
Rushes-Rushing yards-Rush AVG.     1,020-4,442-4.4
Receptions-Receiving yards-Yards per catch     286-2,559-8.9
Games Played-TD's     152-23 TDs
Stats at NFL.com
Stats at pro-football-reference.com
Stats at DatabaseFootball.com

Darren Milo Nelson (born January 2, 1959 in Sacramento, California) is a former professional American football player in the National Football League who played for the majority of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. Nelson grew up in Sacramento and nearby Downey, California.

Biography[]

Nelson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1st round (7th overall) in 1982 NFL Draft after graduating from Stanford University. He spent eight seasons with the Vikings; 1982–1989, before going to the San Diego Chargers. Nelson would spend the final nine games of the 1989 season and the entire 1990 season with the Chargers. Following his year and a half away from the Vikings, Nelson returned to the team in 1991 and stayed there for the final two years of his career, 1991–1992.

Nelson was actually traded from the Vikings to the Cowboys as part of the infamous Herschel Walker Trade in 1989. However, after refusing to report to Dallas, he was subsequently flipped to the Chargers.

As a running back, Nelson was a threat as both a runner and as receiver out of the backfield. For his career, Nelson rushed for 4,442 yards, caught 286 passes for 2,559 yards and scored 23 touchdowns (18 rushing and 5 receiving) in 152 games. As of 2007, Nelson works with Stanford University as a Senior Associate Athletic Director - External Relations/Development.

Career stats[]

NCAA Collegiate Career Statistics
Stanford Cardinal
Season Rushing Receiving
Att Yards AVG TD Long Catches Yards YPC Avg. TDs
1977 183 1,069 5.8 3 0 50 524 10.6 3
1978 167 1,061 6.4 6 0 50 446 8.9 4
1979
Did Not Play - Injured
1980 161 889 5.5 4 40 47 552 11.7 4
1981 192 1,014 5.3 11 0 67 846 12.6 5
NCAA Career Totals 703 4,033 5.7 24 40 214 2,368 11.1 16
NFL Career Statistics
Minnesota Vikings
Season Rushing Receiving
Games Att Rush Yds AVG TD Long Catches Rcvg YDS YPC TD Long
1982 7 44 136 3.1 0 18 9 100 11.1 0 22
1983 15 154 642 4.2 1 56T 51 618 12.1 0 68
1984 15 80 406 5.1 3 39 27 162 6.0 0 17
1985 16 200 893 4.5 5 37 43 301 7.0 1 25T
1986 16 191 793 4.2 4 42 53 593 11.2 1 34
1987 10 131 642 4.9 2 72 26 129 5.0 3 13
1988 13 112 380 3.4 1 27 16 105 6.6 0 27
1989 5 31 124 4.0 0 0 24 52 7.4 0 7
San Diego Chargers
1989 9 36 197 5.5 0 28 31 328 10.6 0 49
1990 14 3 14 4.7 0 5 4 29 7.3 0 10
Minnesota Vikings
1991 16 28 210 7.5 2 29 19 142 7.5 0 13
1992 16 10 5 0.5 -- 9 -- -- -- -- --
NFL Career Totals 152 1,020 4,442 4.4 18 72 286 2,559 8.9 5 68

References[]


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