Jordy Nelson Jordan Raymond Nelson ( born May 31 , 1985 ) is an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Kansas State University , and received All - America honors . Nelson was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft , and has played professionally for the Packers . He is regarded as being one of the few elite receivers in the NFL . Personal life . Nelson was born in Manhattan , Kansas . Jordy Nelson married his longtime girlfriend Emily ( née Rothlisberger ) in 2007 after proposing on a family vacation to Cancun . Emily played basketball at Bethel College ( Kan . ) . The couple has a son , Royal . Nelson is a Christian and has spoken about his faith by saying , " Now , as a husband , father and , most importantly , as a Christian , I can see the Super Bowl Champion label with a greater perspective . I know it ’ s an opportunity to share the most important truth of life : the gospel of the Lord and Savior , Jesus Christ . " Early years . He attended Riley County High School in Riley , Kansas , and played for the Riley high school football team . During his senior year at the quarterback position , he completed 62 percent of his passes for 1 , 029 yards and eight touchdowns . He also rushed for 1 , 572 yards , averaging 9 . 8 yards per carry with 25 touchdowns . He was named Flint Hills Player of the Year by the " Manhattan Mercury " and was a two - time first - team All - Mid - East League selection . Nelson was a first team 3A all - state football player and earned Top 22 honors in the state of Kansas as a quarterback / defensive back . In 2003 , he played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl . He was also an all - state basketball player averaging 17 . 2 points per game his senior year for the Falcons . Track and field . Nelson was also an outstanding track and field athlete at Riley County High School . He won a national AAU championship in the 400 meters as a 10 - year - old . In 2003 , his senior year , he won the state titles in Class 3A in the 100 meters , with a time of 10 . 63 seconds , 200 meters , with a time of 21 . 64 seconds , 400 meters , with a time of 48 . 79 and long jump , with a leap of 7 . 00 meters . College career . Nelson attended Kansas State University , where he played for coach Bill Snyder ' s Kansas State Wildcats football team from 2003 to 2007 . He began his college career as a walk - on at K - State , and took his redshirt year as a member of the Wildcats ' 2003 Big 12 Championship team . Nelson was set to play defensive back in college , but during spring practice following his first year , Snyder moved him to wide receiver . During his sophomore campaign , Nelson caught 65 passes for 8 touchdowns , elevating expectations for the junior wide receiver , as he was listed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list . Injuries kept him off the field most of his junior year , leading to a disappointing junior season , in which he only caught 39 balls for 1 touchdown . After going unnoticed his junior year , Nelson broke out during his senior year , and was among the nation ' s best receivers . He earned consensus All - American honors , and was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award , after catching 122 passes for 1 , 606 yards and 11 touchdowns . Nelson also showed his versatility by throwing 2 touchdowns and returning 2 punts for touchdowns . After the season , Nelson continued to improve his stock as an NFL wide receiver prospect for the 2008 draft . On April 26 , 2008 — the first day of the NFL Draft — Nelson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers with the 5th pick of the second round ( the 36th overall selection ) . Nelson was the third receiver taken in the draft . He recorded his first touchdown reception September 14 , 2008 , a 29 yard pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers . He recorded his second touchdown reception in week 14 against the Houston Texans . Nelson finished his rookie campaign with 33 receptions for 366 yards and 2 touchdowns . In 2009 , Nelson played in 13 games for the Packers , catching 22 balls for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns . He also saw action as the primary kick returner for most of the year . Professional career . Green Bay Packers . In the 2010 season he set career - highs in receiving yards ( 582 ) and catches ( 45 ) , while catching 2 touchdown passes for the third straight year . Following the injury to Aaron Rodgers against the Detroit Lions on December 12 , 2010 , it was revealed that Nelson also serves as the Packers ' emergency / third string quarterback . However , in 2013 when Aaron Rodgers and Seneca Wallace both became injured it was announced that Scott Tolzien would be the team ' s emergency quarterback , though Nelson could still play the position if needed . Building on strong outings in the 2010 - 11 playoffs against Atlanta and Chicago , Nelson caught a 29 - yard touchdown pass on third - and - 1 with William Gay covering , for the first score of Super Bowl XLV . " This was Jordy last week : ' I think we need to convert on third downs to win the game . ' . . . Rodgers threw a terrific pass , capping an 80 - yard touchdown drive , " a live - blog reported . In the balance of the game , Nelson struggled some and made no more touchdowns . However , he recovered from a dropped pass early in the fourth quarter to make a 38 - yard play on the next down , taking the Packers to the Steelers ' two - yard line . Nelson was the top receiver of the game with 9 receptions for 140 yards ( both career highs ) , while also gaining 19 more yards on a kick return . Nelson finished the 2011 - 12 regular season with career highs in touchdowns ( 15 ) , receptions ( 68 ) , and receiving yards ( 1 , 263 ) . He had a career high 3 TD receptions in the season finale against the Detroit Lions , and moved into sole possession of 3rd place for most receiving TDs in a single season in Packers franchise history , behind only Sterling Sharpe ( 18 ) and Don Hutson ( 17 ) . In the midst of his breakout season , Nelson signed a three year , $ 13 . 35 million contract extension on October 2 .