Background and career
Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Green Bay Packers. Nelson was raised in Riley County, Kansas and played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, receiving consensus All-American honors in 2007. He was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft. In the 2010 season, he won Super Bowl XLV over the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching a touchdown pass in the game. Following his departure from the Packers in 2018, he played one year with the Oakland Raiders before announcing his retirement. In 2023, he was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. As of September 2025, Nelson holds the Packers franchise record for the most Lambeau Leaps performed by a player (27).
Nelson was born in Manhattan, Kansas, to Alan and Kim Nelson, farmers who lived in Riley and had season tickets to Kansas State football games. The Nelson farm, established by his great-great-grandfather who immigrated from Sweden, has been in the family for four generations. Nelson attended Riley County High School in Riley, Kansas, and played football for the Falcons. During his senior year playing quarterback, he completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns. Nelson 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. In 2003, he played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. In addition to football, he was an all-state basketball player, averaging 17.2 points per game his senior year. Nelson was an outstanding track and field athlete and won a national AAU championship in the 400 meters as a 10-year-old. In 2003, his senior year at Riley County High School, he won the state titles in Class 3A in the 100 meters, with a time of 10.63 seconds, which is currently the fastest 100m time in state history for class 3A; 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. Nelson became the third player from Riley County High School to make the NFL, joining Jon McGraw and Homer Hanson.
Nelson attended Kansas State University, where he played for coach Bill Snyder's Wildcats football team from 2003 through 2005. When Snyder retired after the 2005 season, Nelson remained with Kansas State and played the rest of his college career (2006 and 2007) under Ron Prince.
Nelson began his college career as a walk-on at Kansas State and took his redshirt year as a member of the Wildcats' 2003 Big 12 Championship team. For 2004, Nelson was set to play defensive back, but during spring practice following his first year, Snyder moved him to the wide receiver position. He did not record any meaningful statistics in the Wildcats' 4–7 season in 2004.
In the Wildcats' season opener against FIU, Nelson had four receptions for 36 yards and caught his first career collegiate touchdown, an eight-yard pass from quarterback Allen Webb, in the fourth quarter of the 35–21 victory. Including the season opener, Nelson caught a touchdown in seven straight games that he appeared in. In that seven-game stretch, Nelson's best performance came against Oklahoma in a 43–21 loss where he had three receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, which was a 73-yard reception from Webb. Kansas State struggled down the stretch of the season and did not make a bowl game with a 5–6 record. In the final game of the season, Nelson had seven receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown in a 36–28 victory over Missouri. During his sophomore season, Nelson caught 45 passes for 669 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the team in all major receiving categories.
In his junior season, Nelson was listed on the Biletnikoff Award watchlist, which is an award for the most outstanding receiver in college football. Injuries kept him off the field most of his junior year, leading to a disappointing junior season. Nelson did have some highlights in the 2006 season despite not getting to play as much. In the season opener against Illinois State, Nelson had four receptions for 62 yards in the narrow 24–23 victory. On November 4, against Colorado, Nelson turned in his best effort of the season with five receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown in the 34–21 victory. One week later, against the #4 Texas Longhorns, Nelson had a quiet day with only three receptions for 15 yards, but he threw a successful pass for 28 yards in the upset 45–42 victory. The Wildcats qualified for the Texas Bowl with a 7–5 record. In the 37–10 loss to #16 Rutgers, Nelson had four receptions for 81 receiving yards. Overall, Nelson finished the 2006 season with 39 receptions for 547 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards.
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
