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Kent Nix

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Kent Nix
Date of birth (1944-03-12) March 12, 1944 (age 80)
Place of birthCorpus Christi, Texas
Career information
Position(s)Quarterback
US collegeTexas Christian
Career history
As player
1967-1969Pittsburgh Steelers
1970-1971Chicago Bears
1972Houston Oilers
Career stats

Alvin Kent Nix (born March 12, 1944 in Corpus Christi, Texas) is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. Nix played football collegiately at Texas Christian University (TCU). He is the son of Emery Nix, New York Giants quarterback who played for the New York Giants in 1943 and 1946.[1] [2]

Texas Christian quarterback

Nix helped TCU to an upset of Baylor University in October 1964. He passed 4 yards to Joe Ball for the first score in a 17-14 win at Fort Worth, Texas.[3] He led the Horned Frogs on four long scoring drives as a senior quarterback to defeat Baylor in Waco, Texas, the following October. Nix hit on five consecutive passes during a 79-yard drive for a touchdown, in the second quarter. TCU won on a field goal by Bruce Alford in the third period.[4] Nix tied a Southwest Conference record with 4 touchdown passes of 31, 24, 12, and 15 yards, versus Rice University, in November 1965. He also scored on a one yard plunge to give Texas Christian a 42-14 halftime lead. His first two touchdown passes came in the first ninety-three seconds following Rice fumbles. [5] Nix was bothered for much of his collegiate career by a knee injury. While at TCU, he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

Green Bay Packers (1966)

Nix was cut by the Green Bay Packers on August 2, 1966.[6] He passed through waivers but was retained on the Packers' taxi squad[1] for the remainder of the 1966 season.[7] After clearing waivers Nix became a free agent.[1]

Pittsburgh Steelers (1967 - 1969)

He got his first chance to play in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 1967. The Steelers regular quarterback, Bill Nelsen, had an injury to his right knee. Nix was the only other quarterback on the roster.[8] He made his debut against the Philadelphia Eagles.[9] Nix connected on an 18-yard pass to J.R. Wilburn to tie the score, 24-24, midway through the fourth quarter. The Steelers lost in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 34-24.[10] Nix completed 23 of 34 passes against the Cleveland Browns for 218 yards and one touchdown, in October 1967. Split end Dick Compton caught ten of his passes.[11] Nix hit rookie Steelers' running back, Don Shy, for a 27-yard touchdown in a loss to the Giants at Pittsburgh, on October 15.[12]

Tom Landry called Nix the best rookie quarterback he had seen in ten years.[13] Nix guided the Steelers to a 24-14 triumph against the Detroit Lions on December 3. He handed off to Shy for two one-yard touchdowns to cap drives of 80 and 64 yards in the first and second quarters. He fooled the Lions' defense by passing often on first and second down. Most significantly Nix found swift J.R. Wilburn for a 67-yard touchdown with 1:49 remaining in the second quarter.[14] He led the Steelers on a 78-yard drive, completed by a Nix to John Hilton 3-yard touchdown pass, which gave Pittsburgh a temporary 10-9 lead against the Washington Redskins. During the drive at Pittsburgh on December 10, Wilburn caught four passes for fifty-five yards.[15]

The Steelers traded Nix during the 1970 preseason to the Minnesota Vikings, but he failed to make their roster and signed with the bears before the season started.[16]

Chicago Bears (1970 - 1971)

Nix signed with the Chicago Bears and spent the 1970 season on the taxi squad.[16] He rallied the Bears in the fourth quarter for a second straight week, coming from behind to upset the Vikings, 20-17, in September 1971. He threw touchdown passes of 36 and 26 yards to Dick Gordon in Minneapolis. The latter pass found Gordon in the end zone with 1:42 remaining in the game. Bears starting quarterback, Jack Concannon, was knocked out of the game on a hit by Carl Eller.[17]

Nix started his first game since 1968 in a 35-14 beating of the New Orleans Saints at Soldier Field. He threw touchdown passes of 25 and 35 yards to Bob Wallace and Gordon. Overall he completed 14 of 24 passes for 242 yards.[18]

The Bears waived Nix on September 13, 1972.[19] In March 1974 Nix filed suit against the Bears, charging they had misdiagnosed a November 1971 hand injury as a sprained wrist. He asked for more than $10,000. Nix had continued playing following the preliminary diagnosis. In his lawsuit he claimed that the injury was aggravated. A later diagnosis stated that the injury was a rupture of both tendons of the index finger of the right hand.[20]

Houston Oilers (1972)

The Houston Oilers signed him to their taxi squad on September 21.[21] Houston traded Nix along with Ron Billingsley to the New Orleans Saints for Dave Parks, Tom Stincic, and Edd Hargett.[22]

References

  1. ^ a b c Giants Dire Need: A Back-Up Passer Who Knows Score, New York Times, November 7, 1966, Page 67.
  2. ^ Lombardi Confirms Starr's Injury, New York Times, October 6, 1967, Page 46.
  3. ^ Baylor Bows, 17-14 To Texas Christian, New York Times, November 1, 1964, Page S5.
  4. ^ Baylor Is Upset By T.C.U., 10-7, New York Times, October 31, 1965, Page S3.
  5. ^ Texas Christian Routs Rice, 42-14, New York Times, November 21, 1965, Page S6.
  6. ^ Football Roster Trims, New York Times, August 3, 1966, Page 33.
  7. ^ 3 Regulars Back For Pittsburgh, New York Times, October 15, 1967, Page 208.
  8. ^ Lombardi Still Thinks Packers Are Great, New York Times, September 26, 1967, Page 59.
  9. ^ Snell Faces Surgery Today, New York Times, September 29, 1967, Page 58.
  10. ^ Eagles Down Steelers, 34-24, October 2, 1967, Page 66.
  11. ^ Larson of Giants Is Vindicated Of Elbowing Charge by Films, New York Times, October 10, 1967, Page 61.
  12. ^ Double Reverse-and-Pass Clicks For Winning Score, New York Times, October 16, 1967, Page 62.
  13. ^ Ryan, Quarterback of Browns, Just Passes Off His Injuries, October 27, 1967, Page 57.
  14. ^ Nix Baffles Lions, Steelers Win, 24-14, New York Times, December 4, 1967, Page 86.
  15. ^ Redskins Beat Steelers, 15-10, New York Times, December 11, 1967, Page 71.
  16. ^ a b Steelers Trade Nix To Vikings, The Pittsburg Press, September 3, 1970, Page 40, column 2.
  17. ^ Bears Stun Vikings With 20-17 Victory, Los Angeles Times, September 27, 1971, Page D1.
  18. ^ Nix Gets Chance, Leads Bears to 35-14 Victory, Los Angeles Times, October 11, 1971, Page D6.
  19. ^ Football Transactions, New York Times, September 14, 1972, Page 63.
  20. ^ People in Sports, New York Times, March 22, 1974, Page 46.
  21. ^ Football Transactions, New York Times, September 22, 1972, Page 53.
  22. ^ Football Transactions, New York Times, March 23, 1973, Page 80
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