Selected in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
1x NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 8, 2025).
Has played in 107 regular season games, with 22 starts, recording 192 tackles (29 for loss), 46 quarterback hits, 21.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, seven passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and one interception (returned for a touchdown). Also has 17 career special teams tackles.
Has played in 10 career postseason games, making two starts, and recording 13 tackles (one for loss), 1.0 sack and five quarterback hits. Also tallied two special teams tackles.
Was a key contributor to Tampa Bay's 2020 defense, which 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).
Played 22-of-76 defensive snaps in the Week 1 victory in Atlanta, contributing one tackle. Also appeared on 17 special teams snaps and recorded two special teams tackles.
In the Week 2 win at Houston, appeared on special teams and in a reserve capacity on defense. Logged nine defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps.
Per Next Gen Stats, Nelson generated a team-high 40% pressure rate, recording two quarterback pressures on his five pass rush snaps.
Played 20-of-69 defensive snaps and a team-high-tying 24 special teams snaps in the Week 3 win over the New York Jets, finishing with two tackles (one for loss).
In Week 4 vs. Philadelphia, played 19-of-57 defensive snaps, and a team-high 33 special teams snaps. Finished with one defensive tackle and one forced fumble, along with one special teams tackle.
Played a team-high 28 special teams snaps, in addition to 16 defensive snaps, in the Week 5 win at Seattle. Finished with one special teams tackle.
In the Week 6 win over the 49ers, played 22-of-69 defensive snaps and recorded a then-season-high four tackles and one quarterback hit. Also contributed on a team-high 28 special teams snaps.x Played 24-of-68 defensive snaps in Week 7 at Detroit, contributing four tackles, one quarterback hit and 1.0 sack. Also contributed on a season-high 24 special teams snaps and logged one special teams tackle.
Was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 8 after making his first start of the season at outside linebacker, playing 45-of-72 defensive snaps, and recording four tackles (two for loss), 2.0 sacks, two quarterback hits, a forced fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown. In doing so, he became the first player since 2007 to reach each of these marks in a single game and just 1-of-3 players since at least 2000 to accomplish this feat.
In Week 8, Nelson became the first player since Alex Highsmith (PIT, 9/18/23 vs. Cleveland) to record at least 1.0 sack, a forced fumble and an interception return touchdown in a single game. He was also the first player since Khalil Mack (CHI, 9/9/18 at GB) to record a sack, a forced fumble and an interception return touchdown in a single half.
Started at outside linebacker and played 56-of-61 defensive snaps in Week 10 vs. New England, finishing with six tackles.
In Week 11 at Buffalo, started at outside linebacker and played 49-of- 56 defensive snaps, contributing two tackles.
Started at outside linebacker and played 37-of-56 defensive snaps in Week 12 at the Los Angeles Rams, recording three tackles.
In the Week 13 win over Arizona, played 18-of-61 defensive snaps, contributing three tackles. Also appeared on 17 special teams snaps and recorded one special teams tackle.
Played 29-of-58 defensive snaps in Week 14 vs. New Orleans, contributing one tackle and one pass defensed. Also registered a team-high 22 special teams snaps.
In Week 15 vs. Atlanta, appeared on 17-of-71 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle. Also played a team-high 26 special teams snaps.
Against the Panthers in Week 16, played three defensive snaps and five special teams snaps before leaving with injury.
Was inactive in Weeks 17-18.
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, 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.
