Jordy Nelson Was an All-Time Packer Great
Today we take a walk down memory lane and celebrate Jordy Nelson's career in Green Bay.
When news broke last year that the Packers had released Jordy Nelson, Packer Nation became unglued. Although it was the right decision, it is never easy saying good-bye to an all-time great Packer and an all-time great person. Not only did Jordy do so much on the field, but he was a pillar in the Green Bay community and was adored by everyone he came in contact with.
After a rough season in Oakland, Nelson was released with one year remaining on his contract and ultimately decided to retire from football. As Aaron Rodgers had jokingly said after the Packers week 1 win against the Seahawks in 2017, Jordy Nelson had clearly lost a step due to all of the injuries he suffered throughout his storied career in Green Bay.
With the Packers depth at the receiver position questioned after limited contributions from their young receiving core in 2018, many clamored for a reunion between Jordy and the Packers in 2019. Packer fans did get their wish of a reunion between Jordy Nelson and the Packers; just not the one they wanted or expected.
Two days ago, Nelson announced on WIBW in Kansas, that he was going to return to Green Bay at some point in August to sign a 1-day contract and retire as a Packer.
Unfortunately, the NFL is a result driven league that shows little to no loyalty to its players during the twilights of their careers. Jordy Nelson experienced an abrupt ending to a storybook career in Green Bay due to diminishing skills, which left a sour taste in the mouths of Packer fans worldwide.
Thankfully, much of this sour taste will be dissolved this August when Jordy comes home to Lambeau Field to be honored for all of his accomplishments both on and off the field during his time with the Packers.
Nelson ranks in the Packers top 5 in receptions (550), yards, (7,848), and touchdowns (69). Here are just a few of my favorite moments during Jordy's time in Green Bay.
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David Michalski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @kilbas27dave
Comments (30)
4thand1
June 05, 2019 at 05:42 pm
I wonder if it will be on family night.
DavidMichalski
June 05, 2019 at 05:50 pm
That would be awesome
TheBigCheeze
June 05, 2019 at 06:13 pm
Jordy should get signed....he'd easily be the #2 WR.......
CAG123
June 05, 2019 at 11:13 pm
My goodness let it goooooo Jordy has moved on to his next phase in life it’s time to accept it.
I bleed green more
June 05, 2019 at 07:49 pm
I got to see Jordy play college ball. I told my brother would love if the Pack drafted him. The rest is Packer history.
crayzpackfan
June 05, 2019 at 08:10 pm
He was an all time Packer great of the last decade. He exceeded expectations, he was the favorite target of an all time great QB, and was extremely productive.
IceBowl
June 05, 2019 at 08:54 pm
Are you sure you want to say that?? He was the same diva as OBJ and Owens and Moss. A pain in the ___. It was good he left to the left coast.
NickPerry
June 06, 2019 at 04:41 am
Wait what??
Oh I see... You meant the DIVA who wore #85 and by "left coast" you mean Minnesota?
I mean you couldn't have been talking about that kid from Kansas. That kid was the epitome of humble, a true champion, and one of the Packers all time greats! Welcome home Jordy, your back where you belong. Retired as a member of the greatest sports franchise in all of sports as one it's greatest WR to ever grace the frozen tundra.
Thank you Jordy Nelson!
PeteK
June 06, 2019 at 08:58 am
I hope that Ice put out the bait(can't be serious). Hahaha
IceBowl
June 06, 2019 at 07:29 pm
I thought I would try this to see what happens with pure and obvious BULL in this blogesphere.
I regret I used Jordy as the subject though. Glad I didn't fool you guys. With all my dislikes, I guess I fooled some. LOL
PeteK
June 06, 2019 at 11:22 am
You should change to name to Mr. Freeze , that was pure eeevil.
4thand1
June 06, 2019 at 01:46 pm
Ban icebowl for life!!!!!!!!! lmao.
IceBowl
June 06, 2019 at 06:56 pm
4thand1,
I can't argue that point.. Glad you are laughing though.
IceBowl
June 06, 2019 at 07:49 pm
PeteK,
It didn't work (expose trols).
So get out your "Bat Paddle."
marpag1
June 06, 2019 at 02:57 am
No "becoming unglued" and no "sour taste in the mouth." It was clearly time for him to go. I don't personally know anyone who disagreed with cutting him and his huge salary.
Frankly, he probably could have gone a bit sooner.
Lare
June 06, 2019 at 07:23 am
I agree. He was a good player for the Packers but was never the same after he blew out his knee. Let him retire as a Packer so he has a shot at the Packers Hall of Fame.
PeteK
June 06, 2019 at 07:59 am
He had 97 catches, 1200 yds 14 TDS after he blew out his knee. He also caught 69 career TDS and had excellent post season numbers, but he was only good.
IceBowl
June 07, 2019 at 12:57 pm
PeteK,
Exactly!
DavidMichalski
June 06, 2019 at 08:29 am
I guess you missed the part where I said "although it was the right decision" it was hard to see him go. But Packers Twitter did come unglued as it does for most things.
marpag1
June 06, 2019 at 09:07 am
Your guess is wrong. I don't care if you thought it was the right decision. I don't care what you read on Twitter.
I said... "I don't personally know anyone who disagreed with cutting him."
What does that have to do with your opinion or with Twitter?
Try not to be so massively thin-skinned.
DavidMichalski
June 06, 2019 at 10:15 am
Well, you read the article and commented on something that I said so you do care a little. I'm also saying people did put up a stink over Gute releasing Jordy, that's a fact though not my opinion. Enjoy your day!
flackcatcher
June 06, 2019 at 01:13 pm
In the Packers system Nelson had taken the place of the TE. More out of necessary, but he was effective in 2017 till he went down again. Did GUTE pull the trigger too early, looking back I say yes. (hindsight is always 20/20) The main problem is the OTA/Training camp do not allow quarterbacks to build the connection to play in the most NFL offensives. Not only in Green Bay, but league wide. But GUTE follows the Ron Wolf/Ted Thompson rule of letting players go early rather than when they are completely spent. Nelson had developed into one of best route runners in the league, and was always open on his breaks. Something the Packers lacked last year. But with what WR the Packers had coming back, and decisions to be made on the draft, releasing Nelson was the least painful move for the new GM. In the old NFL, Nelson would be Steve Smith JR, still playing today. In the new NFL, once you hit 30, the clock ticks a lot faster. (QB position is different, old guys are even more important thanks to the gutting of prep time.) David, if you go over the Jordy threads of last year, we all knew it was a 'pick em' by GUTE. No matter what the GM did, this was going to hurt the team one way, or another, not one person on CHTV disputed that. I am glad that Jordy Nelson is retiring as a Green Bay Packer, looking forward to his induction speech at the Packer Hall of Fame.
Mcdaws
June 06, 2019 at 11:30 am
Man his highlight reel was phenomenal, we were spoiled, he was so good! The back shoulder, deep ball, post in the seam. Crazy good. Davante's game has a lot of similarities now.
PeteK
June 06, 2019 at 11:33 am
You just got demoted to Marpag 2. EEEASY what happened Jordy didn't sign an autograph for you.
ILPackerBacker
June 06, 2019 at 12:05 pm
OMG, the 'right' choice? The choice was between Cobb and Jordy. That WAS the choice.
It was the WRONG choice.
jannesbjornson
June 06, 2019 at 12:18 pm
Cap Hit vs no Cap Hit. Nelson got better cash from Gruden and pulled in some yards after Cooper was moved. He had a great career, now back to the farm.
ILPackerBacker
June 06, 2019 at 12:12 pm
Cobb limped in and out of 9 games. 38 receptions on 61 targets 10.1 YPC with the brilliant throw to beat the bears, something jordy did not get. He had 2 tds and the fumble that iced the redskin loss.
Jordy had 63 receptions on 88 targets. HELLO?
Jordy averaged nearly 2 yards per catch more playing in a new system and a new QB who could not carry the jockstrap of Rodgers. And without a number 1 WR most of the year. The difference a WR makes is vivid thanks to the trade of AC to dallas.
Wake up
Ryan3468
June 06, 2019 at 01:11 pm
Very few can run as good of a route with the speed necessary to win against good coverage, and catch the ball. Where Jordy really separated from most if not all receivers was his body control. Epically talented in that area. Not diminishing anything of his speed, agility, route running, hands, and knowledge of the game, playbook, and his quarterback. Glad he was in Green and Gold!
PatrickGB
June 06, 2019 at 01:50 pm
Did we release Jordy one year too early? Perhaps. But we got Graham who, while disappointing, was pretty good at TE and has a future here. I loved what Nelson did at GB. Jordy was a great player whose time here had ended. Let’s thank him, remember his contributions and let it go at that.
Doug Niemczynski
June 06, 2019 at 04:39 pm
No Doubt and Canton Hall of Famer!!