Keisean Nixon is the Packers' new electrifying kickoff returner. Here's what you should know about him, including his connection to Snoop Dogg.
Christopher KuhagenKeisean Nixon appears to have been the spark that the Green Bay Packers needed to resurrect their season.
And he also appears to be a player they have needed for years to resurrect their embattled special teams kickoff unit.
Where did Nixon come from and what's his connection to legendary rapper Snoop Dogg? Here's what you should know about Nixon, the electrifying player who recorded the Packers' first kickoff return touchdown in over a decade.
More:Keisean Nixon adding a dimension to the Packers' return game they haven't seen in years
How old is Keisean Nixon?
25 years old.
What's Keisean Nixon's height and weight?
He's 5-foot-10 and 201 pounds.
Where is Keisean Nixon from?
Compton, California. He graduated from Bishop Mora Salesian High School, a college prep school in Los Angeles.
What is Keisean Nixon's 40 time?
He ran a 4.42 at his Pro Day in 2019.
Is Snoop Dogg the uncle of Keisean Nixon?
There's some belief floating around the internet that the rapper Snoop Dogg is Nixon's uncle. That is not true, Nixon told Journal Sentinel reporter Kassidy Hill earlier this season.
Nixon played for Snoop Dogg's Snoop Youth Football League when he was younger in California, he told Hill. But Nixon and Snoop Dogg are not related.
Who selected Keisean Nixon in the NFL draft?
He went undrafted but signed with the then-Oakland Raiders as a free agent in 2019.
What were Keisean Nixon's stats with the Raiders?
He played in 40 games with the Raiders across three seasons but started just two games at cornerback, totaling 38 tackles. He spent most of his time on the special teams coverage team, and he had just six kickoff returns his first two years — he didn't have any his third year — and averaged 14 yards per return with zero touchdowns.
When did Keisean Nixon join the Packers?
The Packers signed him early in the 2022 offseason. His rejoined Rich Bisaccia, who took over as the Packers' special teams coach earlier in the offseason after leading the same unit with the Raiders. Nixon, who played mostly as a backup cornerback early in the season, took over the Packers' full-time kickoff return duties after 2021 third-round pick Amari Rodgers was released in November.
What are Keisean Nixon's kickoff return stats with the Packers?
He has 31 kickoff returns and an NFL-leading 930 yards for an average of 30 yards per return. Nineteen of his returns have gone for more than 20 yards and five have exceeded 40 yards, also a league high. His biggest returns occurred in the last two weeks with a 93-yard return against the Miami Dolphins on Christmas Day and a 105-yard touchdown return in the Packers' 41-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings. The kickoff return TD was the team's first since 2011. It was also the first of Nixon's career.
What are Keisean Nixon's punt return stats with the Packers?
His punt return opportunities have also started to increase more recently as well. For the season, he has seven returns for 102 yards. The 14.6-yard average ranks second in the NFL.
What are Keisean Nixon's defensive stats with the Packers?
While he is making a name for himself as a dynamic returner in the second half of the season, he also has played as a backup cornerback for the Packers. He has 23 tackles (17 solo), one forced fumble and one interception. He had a season-high seven tackles in the Packers' Week 3 win at Tampa Bay. He hasn't played a snap on defense since Week 15.
Where did Keisean Nixon go to college?
He began his collegiate career at the junior college level, playing two years (2015 and 2016) at Arizona Western College. He played in the secondary and returned kicks. Not surprisingly, he returned two kicks for touchdowns as a sophomore. After earning second-team All-American honors, he received more than 50 scholarship offers to Division I schools. He ultimately chose South Carolina in the Southeastern Conference. Nixon played primarily on special teams in his first year with the Gamecocks before becoming a starter on defense his senior season. He posted 71 tackles and two interceptions across two seasons for South Carolina. During his senior year, he was one of three players selected for the Unselfish Teammate Award for special teams.
What is Keisean Nixon's contract?
He signed a one year deal worth $965,000 with the Packers, according to overthecap.com, an NFL salary cap website.
Is Nixon battling an injury?
He left the team's win over the Dolphins on Dec. 25 with a groin injury in the second quarter. He missed practice the following week, but it didn't appear to matter as indicated below from the 105-yard TD return.