HOUSTON – Veteran NFL cornerback Steven Nelson, a former team captain and key member of the Texans’ AFC South championship squad last season, ended his retirement Monday as he signed with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad following a visit to Arrowhead Stadium.
Nelson previously told KPRC 2 when he retired last summer after nine NFL seasons that he would keep his options open and play again, given the right situation.
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While the Texans play the Chiefs in two weeks, Nelson’s availability for that game is regarded as unlikely since he’ll need some time to ramp up to football playing shape. Nelson is in good condition, though, as he’s been working out in the Houston area.
Nelson turned down multiple teams’ offers during the offseason, including the Texans, to spend time with his family after his wife gave birth.
Nelson intercepted a career-high five passes last season, including an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown in a blowout AFC wild-card playoff game victory over the Cleveland Browns.
The former Chiefs third-round draft pick from Oregon State and Warner Robins, Ga., native retired to spend time with his family and pursue his various business ventures. That includes a large livestock farm in Montgomery County, his Corner Suite Podcast and other pursuits. Nelson emphasized at the time that he stepped away from the game on his own terms.
Nelson never entirely closed the door on resuming his career at some point. From the 2015 draft class, Nelson was the 14th cornerback selected after first-round draft picks Trae Waynes, Kevin Johnson, Marcus Peters and Byron Jones, second-round picks Jalen Collins, Eric Rowe, Ronald Darby, Senquez Golson and Quinten Rollins and third-round selections D’Joun Smith, P.J. Williams, Alex Carter and Craig Mager. From that group, Nelson and Darby were the final two active players.
“I always will keep my body in shape and will always be ready if the right opportunity comes or I feel like the timing is right and my heart is into, I’ll do it,” Nelson told KPRC 2 last summer “As of now, I think it’s best for me to take a step back and just enjoy my family.”
Nelson, who turned 31 in January, was a starter for the Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Texans in 2023 and playing for them for the past two seasons. In 130 career games with 115 starts, Nelson has recorded 13 career interceptions, 87 passes defensed, two forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, one sack, 456 tackles and 11 tackles for losses. He intercepted four passes last season and allowed just one touchdown pass.
Multiple NFL teams, including the Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins made prospective contract offers or serious inquiries about signing Nelson this offseason when his two-year contract expired with Houston, according to several general managers and league sources. However, Nelson made the choice to instead step away from the game at that time for family and business reasons.
“He was a good player when he was here,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of Nelson. “He came out of Oregon State with the ability to return and play corner, and then he developed into a starting corner in the league, and he’s had a nice career for the last how-many years. And so it was the ability to add a little depth to that spot, and we’ll just see how things work out, see kind of where he’s at today, but he would be a welcomed addition if it all works out.”
Nelson emphasized his gratitude for all of the people who helped him along the way, including several teammates, coaches, family and other mentors. That included Dallas Cowboys assistant head coach and secondary coach Al Harris, his former position coach with the Chiefs, former Oregon State position coach Rod Perry, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and several others, including various Texans coaches and personnel.
“I really appreciate the Texans and I’m proud of everything we accomplished together the past few years, building a winner and going from some very tough times to becoming a playoff team,” Nelson said. “I wish those guys all the luck in the world and I’ll be cheering them on. I hope my guys win it all.”
In two seasons with the Texans, playing for coaches DeMeco Ryans and Lovie Smith, Nelson started 31 games and recorded a combined six interceptions with 19 passes defensed, one forced fumble, one sack and 113 tackles.
Nelson Farms is a way of life for Nelson That involves a passion for nature, the farm lifestyle, the animals, including a few Black Angus cattle who live there, and growing a thriving business that requires an ultra-detailed strategy built around patience, planning and caring.
Except for when the sheep are making their presence known, the occasional feisty moments for Dusty, his 3-year-old daughter’s favorite pet, and the cows chiming in, it’s quiet.
“This is my peace,” Nelson told KPRC 2 during a tour of his sprawling acreage last year. “You don’t hear anything, for the most part. When I’m out here, it’s peaceful. I enjoy it. I don’t look at it as work. It’s therapeutic. I enjoy the scenery.
“It’s awesome, man. This is pretty much what I do outside of my day job. It’s been a fun experience. It keeps me busy. This is what I like to do.”
There are parallels between football and farming. Neither profession comes easily. Both require a strong work ethic and a foundation of a desire to do something great.
“It’s about patience,” Nelson said. “Things might not go the way you thing at first. The timing might not be suitable. You need a little patience and perseverance when you’re farming. Things do happen. Animals die. They get sick, things like that.
“Sometimes, they can escape. It’s about having perseverance, just like in football when things get tough. It is not a get-rich quick kind of thing, but there’s definitely a market for it. Whenever you’re in the livestock business, people have to eat. It’s about finding that right niche and it can be really good.”
Growing up in Georgia, Nelson became accustomed to living off the land. He has applied that as an avid hunter. He’s a bow-and-arrow man, mostly hunting for deer.
“I like to think of it as an art,” Nelson said. “It’s not as easy as what people might think. It takes a lot of patience. There’s a lot of failure. You’ve got to be pinpoint accurate. It’s a challenge.”
Whether it’s football or farming, Nelson takes everything seriously. It’s about enjoying his life, and living it on his terms with his family.
“You’ve got to have a passion for it,” Nelson said. “You’ve got to like animals. You’ve got to like the great outdoors. Myself, personally, I like animals. I spend more time outside than I do in my house.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com.
