29 Days Until Training Camp: Nixon’s Dominance

Keisean Nixon had a ridiculous season for the Green Bay Packers in 2022. Big things could await in 2023.

Keisean Nixon (Dan Powers/USA Today Sports)

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Giving up a touchdown is bad. Getting the ball in the hands of Keisean Nixon is a pretty good consolation prize.

Nixon, without any sort of track record as a kickoff returner in college at South Carolina or in three years with the Raiders, changed the Green Bay Packers’ season when he replaced Amari Rodgers in Week 6. With a league-leading 29-yard average on kickoff returns – rounded up from 28.8 – he’ll be one of the team’s key players when it convenes for the first practice of training camp in 29 days.

“I don’t really feel like last year was a breakout season for me,” Nixon said. “I don’t really feel like I accomplished much. I only played nine games at kick returner. Was it the best? Yeah.”

To laughter, Nixon continued, “But that wasn’t really my best. I was just getting my feet wet, honestly. That’s why this year is going to be real special.”

Last year was incredibly special. Nixon became the first first-team All-Pro returner in franchise history. Highlighted by a 93-yard kickoff return at Miami in Week 16 and a 105-yard touchdown against Minnesota in Week 17, he became the third player in NFL history with 90-yard kickoff returns in back-to-back games.

Despite not getting his first shot until late in the sixth game, Nixon led the NFL with five kickoff returns of 50-plus yards. Incredibly, nobody else had more than two. Even more incredible, the Packers didn’t have a single 50-yard kickoff return over the previous six seasons. He had a return of 30-plus yards in seven consecutive games, the longest streak in the league since 2018.

What can he do for an encore?

“I got my own standards as a person for myself and my own expectations,” he said. “I always want to prove it to myself that I am who I say I am, and that’s the biggest thing is coming to work every day and showing who I am. The coaches know who I am and trust in my commitment to this team and to my career.”

After taking the league by storm and lifting the special teams as a whole, the Packers retained Nixon on a one-year, $5 million contract in free agency. He’ll return kickoffs, he might return punts and he’s slated to start in the slot on defense.

“I think it’s great for him,” special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said at the start of OTAs. “He’s got a family. He’s got two little ones, and we all know about what his mom is battling with and going through cancer. For a kid to come as a free agent, it’s a testament to hard work, intestinal fortitude and his mindset of being your best regardless of circumstance.

“When the opportunity was given to him, obviously, he responded. We’re excited for what he’s going to do going forward, as well.”

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