Please answer the following question: Robert C. Nairne (born March 24 1954 in Redding California) is a former American football linebacker who played for seven seasons in the National Football League from 1977 to 1983. He played for Oregon State University in college. Given a list of categories: company, educational institution, artist, athlete, office holder, mean of transportation, building, natural place, village, animal, plant, album, film or written work, what category does the paragraph belong to?
Answer:
Athlete