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MINNELSON0

Darrin Nelson

Retired

Minnesota Vikings · RB

Darrin Nelson recorded 152 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 11 rostered seasons with Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys.

▶Best highlights

29.2

rush yds/gm

16.8

rec yds/gm

8

playoff games

152

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A provisional five-game introduction to Darrin Nelson's most significant indexed performances.

Regular Season
1983
GREEN BAYPACKERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 13, 1983

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 13, 1983

119 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 7 rec

Regular Season
1987
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DALLASCOWBOYS
NOV 26, 1987

Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season · Nov 26, 1987

118 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 5 rec

Regular Season
1985
GREEN BAYPACKERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 10, 1985

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 10, 1985

146 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 2 rec

Regular Season
1986
CLEVELANDBROWNS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
OCT 26, 1986

Cleveland Browns vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Oct 26, 1986

118 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 3 rec

Regular Season
1986
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
GREEN BAYPACKERS
DEC 7, 1986

Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers

Regular Season · Dec 7, 1986

71 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 5 rec

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Darrin Nelson's indexed NFL box scores.

Career high: 146 rushing yards

Regular Season
1985
GREEN BAYPACKERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 10, 1985

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 10, 1985

146 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 2 rec

Career high: 2 rushing touchdowns

Regular Season
1987
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DALLASCOWBOYS
NOV 26, 1987

Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season · Nov 26, 1987

118 rush yds · 2 rush TD · 5 rec

Career high: 137 receiving yards

Regular Season
1983
GREEN BAYPACKERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 13, 1983

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 13, 1983

119 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 7 rec

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Darrin Nelson's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1980–1991

01
MINNELSON—Darrin Nelson
MINCARTER—Anthony Carter
MINDOLEMAN56Chris Doleman

Carter arrives as an unlikely new cornerstone

Minnesota Vikings · Between Tarkenton and the Dome

Minnesota remained dangerous, including a surprise 1987 NFC title-game run, while assembling the stars of its next offense.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1986–2000

02
LACNELSON—Darrin Nelson
LACSEAU55Junior Seau
LACHUMPHRIES12Stan Humphries

Defense carries an unlikely champion of the AFC

Los Angeles Chargers · Seau and the first Super Bowl

Seau became the emotional center of the franchise and the 1994 Chargers won three straight playoff games to reach Super Bowl XXIX.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1989–1999

03
DALNELSON—Darrin Nelson
DALAIKMAN8Troy Aikman
DALSMITH22Emmitt Smith

A bold rebuild produces three championships

Dallas Cowboys · The Triplets dynasty

Jimmy Johnson converted the Herschel Walker trade into a deep young roster, and Dallas won three Super Bowls in four seasons.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1992–2000

04
MINNELSON—Darrin Nelson
MINCARTER80Cris Carter
MINMOSS84Randy Moss

The league's most explosive offense

Minnesota Vikings · Carter, Moss and the 1998 heartbreak

Moss transformed the league as a rookie and the 15–1 Vikings set a scoring record before falling in overtime one game short of the Super Bowl.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

11 NFL seasons152 career games25 career passing yards1 career passing touchdowns4,442 career rushing yards18 career rushing touchdowns286 career receptions2,559 career receiving yards5 career receiving touchdownsJersey: 08 playoff appearancesFirst appearance: Sep 12, 1982Most recent: Jan 2, 1993

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history