Nixon Has Huge Goal After All-Pro Season

“I don’t really feel like I accomplished much” in 2022, the Packers’ All-Pro returner, Keisean Nixon, said on Tuesday. He’s got loftier goals on his mind for 2023.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Throughout his stunning rise from backup defensive back to All-Pro kick returner last season, surprising Green Bay Packers star Keisean Nixon downplayed what he was achieving. In the heat of the moment, there simply wasn’t time to take a step back and reflect.

How about now? Has he considered how his football career changed with his breakout season?

“I don’t really feel like last year was a breakout season for me,” he interjected after Tuesday’s practice at Packers OTAs. I don’t really feel like I accomplished much. I only played nine games at kick returner. Was it the best? Yeah.”

His matter-of-fact tone, sounding much like the observation that grass is green and water is wet, drew laughter from a handful of reporters.

“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.”

The 2022 season was incredibly special. He led the NFL with a 28.8-yard average on kickoff returns. Despite not getting his first opportunity until Week 6 against the Jets, he led the league with five returns of 50-plus yards. That includes a 93-yarder at Miami and a 105-yard touchdown against Minnesota in back-to-back weeks.

On punt returns, he was a bit of an adventure fielding the ball at times but averaged 12.7 yards per runback. Had he reached the league’s 20-return threshold, that average would have ranked second. He had a return of 10-plus yards in each of his five games with a return.

In the process, he became the Packers’ first-ever All-Pro returner.

“I don’t even hold the All-Pro over me,” Nixon said. “You know, I did that. Now, I want to go All-Pro on defense.”

All-Pro on defense, where he’s started six games in four seasons?

“Hell yeah,” he said. “That’s one of my goals. I got a lot of goals. At the end of the day, I just want to prove to myself that I am who I say I am, and wake up every day and be the same person, and just be consistent.”

Nixon opened OTAs as the starter in the slot. That role had nothing to do with the absences of Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, who weren’t present at Tuesday’s practice, and Eric Stokes, who is recovering from foot surgery. Rather, the slot will be Nixon’s job to lose.

That’s a rather stunning development, as well.

An undrafted free agent in 2019, Nixon in three seasons with the Raiders started two games on defense, played 273 snaps and had zero interceptions. In his debut season with Green Bay, he started four games, played 289 snaps and had one interception.

At Tuesday’s practice, Nixon gave up a touchdown to Christian Watson but went stride-for-stride up the sideline to prevent a deep completion to Watson and made a leaping deflection on a blitz.

“I felt like the quarterback out there,” Nixon said. “I feel comfortable because I understand what the defense is. I understand my job.”

A free agent this offseason, Nixon turned down overtures from other clubs and returned to the Packers. It wasn’t a long-term deal, nor was it a big deal, but the one-year, $4 million contract is more than the $3 million he made combined from his first four seasons.

“Oh, man, it’s special,” Nixon said. “I probably took the longest route to get here than probably anybody. Four high schools, junior college, South Carolina, undrafted. I always knew I had it in me to prove who I was. My last organization I played for wasn’t allowing me to do that, and I got a fresh start when I got here and they embraced my talent and who I am as a person. It’s time to cut me loose and let me free, and that’s what they’re doing.”

Oh, Nixon is being cut loose and set free. When the Packers signed him last offseason, perhaps his biggest claim to fame was playing in Snoop Dogg’s youth league as a kid.

Now, he’s got a major opportunity within his grasp as a standout on special teams and a starter on defense. An unheralded addition in 2022 who wasn’t even a lock to make the roster, Nixon has built himself into an irreplaceable part of the team.

“That’s what comes with being great,” he said. “I feel like my skill-set is close to some of the greats and it’s just time to show it now. That’s all it is.”

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