Selected in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
Has played in 75 regular season games, with 12 starts, recording 124 tackles (20 for loss), 29 quarterback hits, 14.5 sacks, four passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Also has nine career special teams tackles.
Has played in nine career postseason games, making one start, and recording eight tackles (one for loss), one sack and five quarterback hits. Also tallied two special teams tackles.
Tampa Bay's 2020 defense led the league in rushing yards allowed per game (80.6) and yards allowed per rush (3.60), while ranking sixth in yards allowed per play (5.12), sixth in yards allowed per game (327.1), ranking tied for second in tackles for loss (91), tied for fourth in sacks (48.0) and tied for fifth in takeaways (25).
Notched first career sack at Detroit (12/27/20).
Tallied first career forced fumble and pass defensed at Carolina (9/12/19).
Made first career start at Los Angeles Rams (9/29/19).
Made NFL debut in a reserve role vs. San Francisco (9/8/19).
Recorded three tackles (one for loss), three quarterback hits and 1.0 sack in the Week 1 victory at Minnesota.
Appeared in a reserve capacity in the Week 2 victory over Chicago, logging 24 defensive snaps and six special teams snaps.
Was one of just 10 players in Week 1 to record at least 1.0 sack, multiple tackles, and three-or-more quarterback hits.
Played 33-of-78 defensive snaps in Week 3 vs. Philadelphia, finishing with four tackles.
In the Week 4 victory at New Orleans, played 21-of-65 defensive snaps and finished with one tackle.
Was inactive for Week 6 vs.Detroit.
In Week 7 vs. Atlanta, played 19-of-65 defensive snaps.
In Week 8 at Buffalo, played 25-of-69 defensive snaps and finished with four tackles (two for loss), 1.0 sack and one quarterback hit. It marked Nelson's first sack of the season.
Played 24-of-72 defensive snaps in Week 9 at Houston, finishing with one tackle.
In the Week 10 victory over Tennessee, played 23 offensive snaps and finished with three tackles.
Played 23-of-60 defensive snaps in Week 11 at San Francisco, logging two tackles and one quarterback hit. Also added one special teams tackle.
According to Pro Football Focus, was Tampa Bay's highest-graded defender in Week 11, earning a 79.0 grade.
Played 32-of-73 defensive snaps in Week 12 at Indianapolis, finishing with two tackles. Also appeared on special teams.
In the Week 13 victory over Carolina, played 24-of-72 defensive snaps and finished with three tackles (one for loss). Also added one special teams tackle.
Played 26-of-72 defensive snaps in the Week 14 victory over Atlanta, logging four tackles.
IntheWeek15victoryatGreenBay, played 28-of-60 defensive snaps, logging four tackles (two for loss), one quarterback hit and 1.0 sacks.
Appeared in a reserve capacity in the Week 16 win over Jacksonville, playing 30-of-66 defensive snaps.
In Week 17 vs. New Orleans, played 32-of-70 defensive snaps and recorded four tackles (one for loss) and one pass defensed.
In the Week 18 victory at Carolina, played 20-of-52 defensive snaps and recorded two tackles. Contributed to a defense that recorded Tampa Bay's first shutout since Nov. 21, 2010 at San Francisco.
In the Wild Card round victory over Philadelphia, logged one tackle and one quarterback hit. Wrapped up Jalen Hurts in the end zone and was bringing him down for a sack before Hurts threw the ball away, receiving an intentional grounding penalty which resulted in a safety.
Appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity on defense in the Divisional round contest at Detroit. Logged a team-lead-tying 24 special teams snaps.
Played in 37 games at Iowa (2015- 18), totaling 119 tackles (31 for loss), 23.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, which was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection
Posted 9.5 sacks as a redshirt junior (2018), tied for the second-most in the Big Ten and tied for the 17th-most in the FBS, while adding 45 tackles (13.5 for loss).
Named second-team All-Big-Ten by the league's media, while earning third- team honors from Phil Steele and the league's coaches.
In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore (2017), recorded 41 tackles (9.5 for loss), 7.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's media and honorable mention from the league's coaches.
Played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman (2016), registering 33 tackles (eight for loss), 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed.
Attended Waukee High School (Urbandale, Iowa), where he earned Class 4A Western Iowa Defensive Player of the Year as a senior was named to the Des Moines Register Elite all-state team as a senior and first- team all-state by Iowa Newspaper.
Son of Christy and Jeff Nelson.
Father, Jeff, played football at Iowa.
In 2020, supported Special Olympics as part of the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative.
In June 2019, rookies participated in Tampa's Police Department Citizen's Academy and visited MacDill's Air Force Base.
Nelson participated in the Linebackers Light Up the Holidays event as part of the 2019 holiday season, helping surprise a group of children with a shopping spree at Target.
