Anthony Nelson (American football)

Anthony Nelson
Nelson with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021
No. 98 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PositionLinebacker
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1997-03-04) March 4, 1997
Waukee, Iowa, U.S.
Height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight271 lb (123 kg)
Career information
High schoolWaukee
CollegeIowa (2015–2018)
NFL draft2019: 4th round, 107th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2025
Total tackles211
Sacks21.5
Forced fumbles7
Fumble recoveries3
Pass deflections7
Interceptions1
Defensive touchdowns1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Anthony Nelson (born March 4, 1997) is an American professional football linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes[1], and was selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft.

College career

Nelson signed with the University of Iowa on February 4, 2015.[2] He redshirted during the Hawkeyes historic 2015 season.

As a redshirt freshman at Iowa, Nelson played in all 13 games with one start. He earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after collecting 2.5 sacks in a win over Miami (OH)[3] – his first game as a Hawkeye – and finished the season second on the team in sacks and tackles for loss. Nelson's first career start came in a 42–3 win over in-state rival Iowa State.

During his sophomore season, Nelson started all 13 games and led the team with 7.5 sacks. He also had four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal. After the season, Nelson was named third-team All-Big Ten by the media and honorable mention by league coaches. He made several key plays, including two sacks and a forced fumble, to help the Hawkeyes win the 2017 Pinstripe Bowl.[4]

Nelson again started all 13 games as a junior, establishing career bests for sacks (9.5) and tackles for loss (13.5). He was Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after wins over Minnesota and Nebraska[5], and recovered a fumble for a touchdown in a shutout win over Maryland.[6] After the season, Nelson was named second-team All-Big Ten by media and third-team by coaches.

Despite having one year of eligibility remaining, Nelson declared for the NFL Draft after his junior season at Iowa.[7] He and former Hawkeye teammate A. J. Epenesa are the only players in school history to finish their careers on the school's top ten sacks list while only playing three years at Iowa.

College statistics

Legend
Bold Career high
Iowa Hawkeyes
Season Games Tackles Sacks Fumbles
GP GS Solo Ast Total TFL Total Yards FF FR
2015 Redshirt
2016 13 1 15 18 33 8.0 6.0 39 2 0
2017 13 13 21 20 41 9.5 7.5 2 0
2018 13 13 23 22 45 13.5 9.5 63 0 1
Totals 39 27 59 60 119 31.0 23.0 4 1

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 7 in
(2.01 m)		 271 lb
(123 kg)		 34+7⁄8 in
(0.89 m)		 9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.82 s 1.65 s 2.76 s 4.23 s 6.95 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		 18 reps
All values from NFL Combine[8][9]

Nelson was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round, 107th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft.[10]

In Week 16 of the 2020 season against the Detroit Lions, Nelson recorded his first career sack on David Blough during the 47–7 win.[11] Nelson was a part of the Super Bowl LV champion Buccaneers. He recorded four solo tackles across the postseason, including one in the Super Bowl.[12][13][14]

On March 16, 2023, Nelson signed a two-year contract extension with the Buccaneers.[15]

On March 11, 2025, Nelson re-signed with Tampa Bay on a two-year, $10 million contract.[16] In Week 8, Nelson intercepted a pass from Spencer Rattler and returned it for a three-yard touchdown. He also recorded two sacks and a forced fumble in the 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week.[17]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast TFL QBH Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Y/I Lng TD FF FR Yds Y/R TD
2019 TB 9 1 8 1 7 0 0 0.0 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 1 0 0 — 0
2020 TB 16 1 18 11 7 2 7 1.0 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2021 TB 17 2 22 13 9 7 10 5.0 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 0 1 0 0.0 0
2022 TB 17 8 46 26 20 4 6 5.5 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 3 1 0 0.0 0
2023 TB 16 0 40 21 19 7 6 3.0 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2024 TB 17 6 40 25 15 6 13 4.0 0 1 0 0 — 0 0 1 1 0 0.0 0
2025 TB 11 4 32 18 14 3 4 3.0 0 1 1 3 3.0 3 1 2 0 0 — 0
Career 103 22 206 115 91 29 46 21.5 0 6 1 3 3.0 3 1 7 3 0 0.0 0

Postseason

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast TFL QBH Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Y/I Lng TD FF FR Yds Y/R TD
2020 TB 4 0 4 4 0 1 2 1.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2021 TB 2 0 2 1 1 0 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2022 TB 1 1 3 3 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2023 TB 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
2024 TB 1 1 5 1 4 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Career 10 2 15 10 5 1 5 1.0 0 0 0 0 — 0 0 0 0 0 — 0

References

  1. ^ Morehouse, Marc (March 2, 2019). "Iowa's Anthony Nelson knew it was time for the NFL". The Gazette. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Future Hawkeye Anthony Nelson leads swarm of Waukee signees". The Des Moines Register. February 4, 2015. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  3. ^ "J.T. Barrett highlights Week 1 Big Ten Players of the Week". Big Ten Network. September 5, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  4. ^ "Iowa rallies to beat Boston College 27-20 in Pinstripe Bowl". Associated Press. December 27, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  5. ^ "Anthony Nelson Named B1G Player of the Week". University of Iowa Athletics. November 26, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "No. 19 Iowa Pummels Maryland 23–0 For 3rd Straight Win". Associated Press. October 20, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  7. ^ "Iowa's Anthony Nelson enters NFL Draft". The Gazette. January 7, 2019. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Zierlein, Lance. "Anthony Nelson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  9. ^ "Anthony Nelson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  10. ^ Vitali, Carmen (April 27, 2019). "Buccaneers Select Anthony Nelson in Fourth Round of the 2019 NFL Draft". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions – December 26th, 2020". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "Anthony Nelson 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  13. ^ Patra, Kevin (February 7, 2017). "What we learned from Buccaneers win over Chiefs in Super Bowl LV". NFL.com. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Super Bowl LV – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs – February 7th, 2021". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Smith, Scott (March 16, 2023). "Anthony Nelson Agrees to Terms with Buccaneers". Buccaneers.com. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Anthony Nelson Lands Third Contract with Buccaneers". buccaneers.com. Retrieved March 17, 2025.
  17. ^ Kownack, Bobby (October 29, 2025). "Bills RB James Cook, Packers QB Jordan Love highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com.
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