Horatio Nelson

Nelson with the Commanders

## Career highlights:

* Second-team All-Pro (5)
* Pro Bowl (2)

**Horatio Nelson** (born December 28) is a former American football defensive end of the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons, one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who drafted him in the third round with the 19th pick, and the rest of his career with the Washington Commanders.

## Early life

Nelson was born in Tyne, England, where he was a top-rated rugby player in middle school before moving to Portland, Oregon and playing high school football for Wilson High School. In his freshman year, he started on the junior varsity team as a wide receiver, recording 842 yards and 8 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he converted to defensive end and recorded 25 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 39 combined tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception for 14 yards, and one fumble recovery. The team finished 9-1 and won the State Championship.

In his junior season, he recorded 26 solo tackles, 10 assisted tackles, 31 combined tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks. The team finished 8-2 and appeared in the State Championship. In his senior year, Neson recorded 27 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles, 34 combined tackles, 8 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks, and one fumble recovery. Nelson was rated a three-star recruit by Scout and a two-star recruit by Rivals. He received only two D1 offers from the University of North Dakota and Long Island University, both in the lower-end competition of FCS schools. Nelson decided to commit to North Dakota.

## College career

At North Dakota, Nelson was denied a redshirt and sat on the bench as a true freshman behind defensive ends Roger Ford and Harry Dillser. Halfway through the season, he was converted to a tight end and only played in one game with one reception for 4 yards. In the aftermath of his freshman season, Nelson left North Dakota citing a "lack of opportunity" to walk-on at the University of Azur Lane.

Playing as a defensive end for Azur Lane as a true sophomore, Nelson started in all ten games. The Crimson Axis amassed a one-loss season, with Nelson recording 27 solo tackles, 11 assisted, 32 combined, 12 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and one forced fumble. In the Sugar Bowl, Nelson contributed to an all-star defensive win 34-12 against USC by recording 1.5 sacks and one interception. He received an All-American honorable mention. In his junior year, Nelson recorded a total of 26 solo tackles, 11 assisted, 35 combined, 10 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one interception for seven yards. The Axis went 8-2 for the season with a trip to the Rose Bowl versus UCLA, where they lost 21-20. Nelson would forgo his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

## Professional career

Upon entering the NFL Draft, Nelson was universally rated as the 8th or 9th best defensive end in the Draft. He was not a highly regarded prospect and while he did speak to coaches and GMs from various teams including the Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, and Kansas City Chiefs, none of them expressed any interest in him. On Draft Day, Nelson was called and told that he was not going to be drafted in the first round, and to show up in person only for the next day. Nelson did not show up for the second day of the Draft, and was drafted in the 3rd round with the 19th pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

### Seasons 1 and 2

While Nelson was initially named as the official starting defensive end for the upcoming the season, the Buccaneers signed defensive end Patrick Gainwell to start in free agency, and Nelson was benched. He never started a game for the Buccaneers, and only appeared in two games for a total of seven solo tackles, two assisted, and six combined. In the offseason, Nelson reportedly beat out Gainwell in training camp and was set to start for the next season before the Buccaneers once again replaced Nelson with Parker Bates, another free agent. Nelson requested a trade and was instead released by the Buccaneers on May 19. After being released, Nelson signed to the Washington Commanders on a rooke-scale deal for four years with a fifth-year option. On The Commanders, Nelson started all 17 games and recorded 25 solo tackles, 12 assisted tackles, 30 combined tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for 14 yards. The Commanders went 8-9 for the season and Nelson was selected to the Pro Bowl.

### Seasons 3 and 4

In his third season, Nelson missed five games due to a shoulder injury. He recorded 17 solo tackles, 6 assisted tackles, 24 combined tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, one sack, and one interception. The Commanders went 9-8 and made the playoffs, yet they lost 14-28 to the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card. In his fourth season, Nelson recorded 27 solo tackles, 8 assisted tackles 35 combined tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks. The Commanders went 6-11 and missed the playoffs, although their defense was ranked the 12th best in the league.

### Seasons 5 and 6

In his fifth season, Nelson recorded for 29 solo tackles, 10 assists, 40 combined tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, one interception for three yards, and one forced fumble. He was selected for second-team All-Pro and finished third in voting for Defensive Player of the Year. The Commanders won the division 11-6 and earned a spot to the playoffs, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff 29-12 and losing to the Los Angeles Rams 14-32. Following the season, the Commanders extended Nelson with his fifth-year option. In his sixth season, Nelson finished with 25 solo tackles, 9 assists, 38 combined tackles, 7 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception for 18 yards and a touchdown, and two forced fumbles.

### Seasons 7 and 8

After concluding his sixth season, Nelson was extended for another four years for $22m. For his seventh season, Nelson finished with 27 tackles, 10 assists, 34 combined tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. The Commanders went 9-8, narrowly missing a Wildcard spot. In his eighth season, Nelson finished with 24 sacks, 10 assists, 36 combined tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions for a total of 23 yards, and one forced fumble. The Commanders finished second-to-last in the division with a 7-10 record.

### Seasons 9 and 10

In Nelson's ninth season, he finished with 21 solo tackles, 11 assists, 38 combined tackles 9 tackles for a loss, one sack, two interceptions for a total of 19 yards, three forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery for one touchdown. The Commanders clinched a Wildcard spot with a 9-8 record, and beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-16 in the divisional round but lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the conference round 14-36. In his tenth season, Nelson missed two games due to an ankle injury. Once he recovered, he totalled 18 solo tackles, 9 assists, 32 combined tackles 5 tackles for a loss, one sack, and one forced fumble. The Commanders finished with a 8-9 record. Regarded to be past his prime, the Commanders released Nelson as his contract expired. He then announced his retirement.

## Personal life

Nelson has one sibling, Rodney, who also played in the NFL.