Jordy Nelson is a Super Bowl Champion, Green Bay’s leading wide receiver and most of all a great dad. Jordy and his wife, Emily lead by example by their involvement with charities in both Wisconsin and Kansas, including the Nelson Family Community Foundation that was founded in 2014. That foundation benefits families in need in his farming community in Kansas and Young Life, a Christian-based youth organization connecting area youth with Christ.
On the field Nelson is among NFL leaders for receiving yards, passes caught, yards per catch and receiving touchdowns. Dating back to the start of the 2011 season, Nelson’s 42 touchdown receptions are fourth in the NFL behind Jimmy Graham, Dez Bryant and Rob Gronkowski.
His breakout game was Nelson’s nine-catch, 140-yard performance in the Packers’ 31-25 win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV, four years ago. Nelson scored the game’s first touchdown in Super Bowl XLV, a 29-yard reception in the first quarter. “Since that game, he’s been our best receiver,” says Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. “He took a big confidence jump after that game.”
After growing up on his parents’ farm in Kansas, Jordy Nelson is one of the few NFL players who truly feels at home in Green Bay. Jordy is one of the few NFL players that are still actively involved with farming on his family farm in in Kansas. Jordy helps harvest winter wheat crop when mini-camp ends in June.
I got to chat with Jordy about him being a substitute teacher, football and fatherhood.
Art Eddy: You have two sons. How do you show them what it means to be a good father and role model?
Jordy Nelson: I show them that I care for them and how I care for my wife and the way I care for my community. That is providing for my kids, helping out in my community, and when you see someone in need doing what you can to help. That is what I try to do and be that role model. My boys are always watching and you are a role model to your kids and not just to your community.
AE: While you were out recovering from your injury you got last year you were helping out a local school by becoming a substitute teacher. What did you learn from that experience?
JN: I learned a lot. I am very grateful for all the teachers I had growing up. I had great teachers that just didn’t go to their job and just teach me what they had to teach me in second grade. They truly cared for me as a kid. They followed me throughout the grades and kept an eye on me.
Once I started substituting I had an even more appreciation for what they did. I was substituting for third grade math. Being with those kids is a lot of work especially out of my comfort zone. It is something that I have never done. What I got from the kids was great. The effect that they had on me, the joy that they had going to school every day, and how they were nice to me and how well they did their work.
AE: Take me back to your first game your rookie season. What was going on in your mind as you played your first NFL game?
JN: My rookie season was crazy. There is a lot of transition of coming into Green Bay. There is a lot of unknown. There is a lot of trying to get down the playbook. You are worrying about what you are wearing into the building and how you are talking to the coaches. You are always on edge. You want to make an impression. You want to do the right thing.
I will never forget my first game. We were playing the Vikings on Monday Night Football. I actually got kicked the first kickoff. I was one of the extra returners and they kicked it my way. No better way to get the ball to start off your career. It was a little nerve racking, but the eight years have gone by fast. That is for sure.
AE: You and the Packers won Super Bowl XLV. That game against the Steelers was so close. How were dealing with the back and forth in the second half and what were you feeling when you and your teammates won the Lombardi trophy?
JN: In games like that you really don’t have much time to think. You are still into it. You are focused on what is going on. You are trying to make plays and put as many points on the board as possible. You really don’t think about the other stuff that is going on.
Pretty much when the defense is out there for the last two minute drive we knew we needed a stop. So we were just watching. We were fans. Our defense played great in all of the playoffs that year. We actually relied on them quite a bit that year to make a stop almost in every game to seal it up for us. They stepped up. When the ball hit the ground on the last incomplete pass there is just a lot of joy and excitement and going crazy. We had to go out there and take a knee. Then I didn’t know what to do. The confetti starts falling and everyone starts running around. People are grabbing you. I was trying to get a hat and t-shirt. It was something that you won’t ever forget.
AE: The Lambeau Leap is one of the biggest things that Packers fans can’t wait to see. Talk about the first time you did the leap and were you nervous about making that jump up to the stands?
JN: I am more nervous now than I was when I was a rookie. When I had my first one it was a reaction. You had the adrenaline. It was your first time in Lambeau. It is your first opportunity to do it. Now I am playing more. I am tired. I am older. I don’t jump as high. You legitimately have to think about it or you will end up on next week’s highlight film in the meetings of failure of doing a good Lambeau Leap. There is a lot of pressure doing it, but it is a lot of fun every time.
AE: Going back to fatherhood, what are some of the core values you looked to instill in your kids as they grow up?
JN: The first thing I think is to treat others the way you want to be treated. It is simple as it can get and yet it is difficult to do. Always be respectful. Care for one another especially being brothers. There is a five year age gap between my two boys, but they need to be best friends. They need to watch out for each other and care for one another, be respectful and do the right things. It is hard to explain. They can watch and hopefully I am doing the right things. So what they see me doing they will do as well. Like we said earlier actions speak louder than words. It is great to watch them grow up and hopefully they grow up to each be a great person.
AE: I know that with your injury this year you had a different schedule than you are used to, but when you are playing football how do you balance work and family?
JN: The way I balance work and family is actually pretty simple for me. When I am at the stadium it is work. I get up in the morning and I go to work. I get everything that I need to get done for work when I am at the stadium. When I get home I have a 15 minute drive. In that 15 minutes I make a phone call if I need to or whatever I need to get done.
When I walk through that door it is all about family. I am a husband. I am a father. It is helping out around the house. I am hanging out with the boys; playing with them and making sure that they get their homework done. Get them fed and help get them to bed. Everyone probably thinks that being a stay at home mom is an easy job. They are working all day and taking care of the kids. They are tired as well. I try to help out as much as possible. Once everyone is in bed I usually watch some more film, but definitely work is work and being a father and a husband comes first when I am at home.
AE: What advice do you have for new dads out there?
JN: You have to make sacrifices. I think that is part of being a father or a husband. Your kids and your wife are your number one priority. Anyone will easily say anything and everything for your family. When you are with them be 100 percent with them. If you are playing make sure you are thinking about playing cars, trucks, or dolls or whatever it is. Do not play with them and think about work. Be there. Be with them and just pour love into them.
Life of Dad Quick Five
AE: What is your favorite family movie that you guys like to watch together?
JN: Our favorite movie is probably Cars.
AE: Do you guys have a favorite song that you all like to dance to?
JN: Oooh, I don’t know if we do. My son loves dancing to a lot of the theme songs to the cartoons. Whether it is Mickey Mouse or things like that.
AE: Describe the perfect family vacation.
JN: Honestly I would say family out on the beach, but to be honest with you it is just our family and our extended family just hanging out in the back yard.
AE: Describe Lambeau Field in one word.
JN: Historic.
AE: Is it weird for a player to draft themselves in fantasy football?
JN: (Laughs.) No. You play to win the game right? We play to win the game. The famous quote right there. You got to do what you gotta do.
Follow Jordy on twitter @JordyRNelson and go to his website at jordynelson.com.