2015_TWF_Journal-WEB

Karl Nelson
2015 Adult Honoree
2015 HONOREE
Karl Nelson played college football at Iowa State University and in 1983,
was the New York Giant’s 3rd Round draft choice – number 70 overall.
As an offensive tackle for the Giants, he forged a place onto the offensive
line from 1984-86, as he started each of the team’s games. He helped the
team win Super Bowl XXI, in part, due to Karl’s superb pass protection
which allowed MVP Phil Simms to complete 22 of 25 passes for 268 yards
and three touchdowns, that the Giants beat the Denver Broncos 39-20.
He missed the 1987 season when he was diagnosed and undergoing
treatment for Hodgkin’s disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system
He was one of the NFL’s best at run blocking. Until his illness Karl had started 55 consecutive games,
had missed only two practices in three seasons and had blasted more holes for running back Joe Morris
than any other Giants lineman at the time. In 1986 Morris rushed for 1,516 yards and 14 touchdowns,
and most of those yards were gained on plays called to Nelson’s side of the field. The season that
Nelson missed due to Hodgkin’s disease -- with William Roberts playing right tackle and Godfrey, who
was hampered by a bruised left knee, at right guard -- Morris rushed for a mere 658 yards and three
touchdowns. Karl was the best, but had to prematurely retire from the NFL in 1989. For a time he
served as a commentator on Giants radio broadcasts.
Though the former tackle was, physically, a mountain of a man, he benefited during his cancer
treatments psychologically, from his experience in the trenches as an NFL player.
“As a lineman, I dealt with adversity all the time. On every play, there was a guy across from me
who tried to stop me from doing my job. When I had cancer, there was even more adversity. There are
many analogies between the two. I told people with cancer that treatments are just like training camp.
No football player wants to go through training camp but, if we wanted to play a regular season – and,
hopefully, a Super Bowl -- we needed to get through camp. Well, no one wants to go through these
treatments but, if we get through them, then we’ll be able to live longer. I had to attack the problem.
My coaches – in this case, my doctors -- were going to get me through this. So, I was going to listen to
them. Coaches put together a game plan, and so do doctors.”
Karl Nelson - Super Bowl champ and cancer survivor, currently resides with his family in Northern
New Jersey where he works in the financial industry and is an active advocate for various charities.
Sources: Sports Illustrated, July 11, 1988; New York Sports Day, May 3, 2006
Trey Whitfield Foundation, Inc. 25 Twenty-Third Anniversary Banquet