Steve's career as a Patriot is legendary and earned him induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 1993. He also had his No. 57 jersey retired, one of only seven Patriots to be given that honor. In addition, Steve was named to the 35th Anniversary team in 1994 and the Team of the Century in 2000.

After his playing days, Steve went into business with teammate Bill Lenkaitis. The two started a restaurant called "Doc & Nellie's" in Stoughton, Mass. Although the restaurant was a popular spot for sports fans in the area, "I learned I didn't want to be in business," says Steve of what he learned from running his own restaurant.

His noteriety as a Patriot always kept Steve busy with opportunities, including coaching the Patriots linebackers in 1990. In 1997 a chance meeting with the President of Curry College turned into his former job as Head Football Coach and Athletic Director of the school.

There he took charge of a football team that had, nicely put, less than a tradition of winning, and turned it into a perennial powerhouse. During one four-year span under Nelson's instruction, the Curry Colonels lost only four games.

Steve also stays active with the Patriots, regularly appearing on the Patriots All Access television show, WEEI radio and New England Cable News. He is currently working for Lighthouse Computer Services, and has five daughters.

Played for the Patriots from 1974-87 ... nucleus of Patriots defense for 14 years ... voted to three Pro Bowls (1981, 1985-86) ... 174 games played ranks sixth overall ... recorded over 100 tackles nine times during his career and finished with 1,776 tackles, an average of 10.2 per game ... led the team in tackles in eight of 14 seasons ... recorded 207 tackles during his 1984 Pro Bowl season ... was credited with a career-high 22 stops vs. NY Jets (9/19/82).

Career Highlights

From 1987 Patriots' Media Guide

Had to miss the final four regular season games - and the one playoff game - in 1986 due to right knee injury (suffered early in third quarter vs. Buffalo, on 11-23; had surgery on 11-26 and put on IR rest of year)...finished season with 70 tackles (36 first-hits) and had two interceptions (for 21 yards)...those two interceptions came in game at Indianapolis, the first time in his career that he had two pickoffs in one game...also led NE in tackles that game with 10 (four solos)...did not play at Jets, on 10-12, and at Pittsburgh, on 10-19, due to ankle problems; had to come out of LA Rams game, on 11-16, due to ankle injury (third quarter)...won annual Ed Block Award for courage in bouncing back from injury; also won 1776 QB Club's Citizenship Award...has been with team longer than any other player currently on team (drafted 2nd round of 1974 draft)...was leader in tackles in '85 with 149 tackles (74 first-hits) and 2nd on team in playoffs with 26 (20 1st-hits)...picked to Pro Bowl for 2nd consecutive season and for 3rd time in his 12-year career; had two 1st-hit tackles in game...selected UPI All-AFC (2nd team) and College and Pro Football Newsweekly All-Pro (2nd team) after '85 season...had two sacks over season for 12 yards, added three pass deflections...in playoffs had one forced fumble...was one of the defensive team captains (with Clayborn)...showed gutsy outing in wildcard playoff at NY Jets on 12-28, dislocated shoulder in 2nd quarter but continued to play; tied for team lead in tackles (with McGrew) with seven solos; recovered fumble...at Miami, on 1-12 in AFC Championship forced fumble on Miami's 1st play (recoverd by Veris) to set up FG (strained shoulder in 1st half, continued to play)...in 1984 led the team in tackles with 207 stops (71 solos and 136 assists)...he suffered a broken right thumb in Pittsburgh on 9-25-83 and was lost for eight games, but made a major impact in the eight games that he did play...in only eight games, he accumulated 98 total tackles, sixth best on the squad, for an average of 12.25 total tackles a game...during the five season period from 1978-82 he played in 53 of a possible 57 games while averaging 11.1 total tackles per game...he also was the team's top tackler in every season except 1981 during that time frame...his two busiest days of the 1982 season came against the Jets (9-19) when he had 22 total tackles and against Houston when he recorded six initial hits, ten assists and three QB pressures...separating his shoulder in the fourth game of 1981, he spent the next four games on injured reserve before returning to start every game...as a result, he lost a chance for the team tackle title, finsihing fourth with 62 tackles and 64 assists...he earned Pro Bowl berth by topping the Patriots with 186 total tackles in 1980...he was also named team MVP for the second time in his career (also in 1975)...the Patriots leading tackler in 1979 with 134 stops, he greatly outdistanced Tim Fox (70) who finished as runnerup on the Patriots' tackle chart...he preserved a Patriot 27-21 win over San Diego (9-23-79) when he intercepted a Dan Fouts' pass at the goal line with just 1:30 remaining to be played...after making 33 tackles in the first four games of 1979, he suffered a concussion vs. Green Bay (110-1-79) that seemingly ended his activity for the year, but he returned two weeks later to start the last ten games of the year, averaging nine tackles per game...he also added two sacks in 1979...his team leading 115 tackles and four fumble recoveries earned him second team AP all-pro honors in 1978...won Super Patriot Award in 1978...started first 14 games of the year, but knee injury vs. Dallas (12-3) sidelined him for final two games of '78 campaign...1977 was a banner year as he had 134 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks, while earning all-pro honors with the NY Post and Unsung Hero Award with 1776 Fan Club...started first ten games of 1976, but a dislocated kneecap suffered vs. Baltimore (11-14) held him out of last four games...returned to play in playoff game vs. Oakland...led team with 157 tackles while starting every game of '75 and was named team's defensive MVP...the 34th player taken in the 1974 draft, Nellie was the second of two Patriot second round choices, the other being OG Steve Corbett of Boston College...starting 11 games as a rookie, he was named as the Patriots' MVP and was the NEA Third Down Award recipient.

Games Played/Started: 1974 -11/9, 1975 -14/14, 1976 -10/0, 1977 -13/13, 1978 -14/14, 1979 -15/15, 1980 -16/16, 1981 -12/12, 1982 -9/9, 1983 -8/7 (Placed on injured reserve 9-2- through 11-25), 1984 -16/16, 1985 -15/15, 1986 -10/10 (Placed on injured reserve 11-28). Total: 163/160.
Other Stats: Blocked PAT: 1984 -1. Forced Fumbles: 1980 -1. 1981 -1, 1982 -2, 1983 -1, 1984 -3, 1985 -3.