| Position: | Tight end |
| Number: | 81 |
| Birth Date: | December 28, 1922 |
| Birth Place: | Fullerton, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Chillicothe, Ohio, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 1 |
| Weight Lbs: | 196 |
| High School: | McKell (South Shore, Kentucky) |
| College: | Cincinnati |
| Draftyear: | 1947 |
| Draftround: | 17 |
| Draftpick: | 149 |
| Pastteams: |
|
| Statlabel1: | Receptions |
| Statvalue1: | 329 |
| Statlabel2: | Receiving yards |
| Statvalue2: | 5,131 |
| Statlabel3: | Touchdowns |
| Statvalue3: | 37 |
| Highlights: |
|
Elbert Everett "Elbie" Nickel (December 28, 1922 – February 27, 2007) was an American professional football player who was a tight end in the National Football League (NFL). He played 11 seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1947–1957).
Nickel starred in three sports at the University of Cincinnati – he was an end on the football team, a top scorer on the basketball team and a pitcher-outfielder in baseball. His education was put on hold by Army service in World War II. Nickel returned to the University of Cincinnati at the conclusion of World War II and was part of the 1946 University of Cincinnati football team that played in the 1947 Sun Bowl where the University of Cincinnati defeated Virginia Tech. This was the first bowl game for the University of Cincinnati.[1]
Entering the 1947 NFL Draft, Nickel was listed at 6'1" and 196 lbs., minuscule for a tight end nowadays, but the game was different back then, and the Steelers would take Nickel in the 17 round with the 149th overall pick. Nickel's career with the Steelers almost didn't happen, since he received an offer from the local Cincinnati Reds to play baseball, but Nickel opted to sign with Pittsburgh and play football instead of baseball. Generally considered one of the best tight ends in Steelers' history,[2] [3] Nickel recorded 329 career receptions as a tight end and is now second in career receptions by a Steelers' tight end behind Heath Miller (490). Nickel was selected to the Pro Bowl three times, 1952, 1953 and 1956. In conjunction with the 2007 celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Steelers, Nickel was selected as one of 33 players on the Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team.
Nickel was selected to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2019 along with tight end, tackle Larry Brown, coach Bill Cowher and wide receiver Hines Ward. In 2022, Nickel was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.
| Legend | ||
|---|---|---|
| Led the league | ||
| Bold | Career high | |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| PIT | 11 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 7 | 22 | 324 | 14.7 | 35 | 1 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 10 | 26 | 633 | 24.3 | 52 | 3 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 22 | 527 | 24.0 | 65 | 4 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 28 | 447 | 16.0 | 77 | 3 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 55 | 884 | 16.1 | 54 | 9 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 62 | 743 | 12.0 | 40 | 4 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 40 | 584 | 14.6 | 52 | 5 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 36 | 488 | 13.6 | 30 | 2 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 12 | 27 | 376 | 13.9 | 47 | 5 | ||
| PIT | 12 | 4 | 10 | 115 | 11.5 | 31 | 1 | ||
| Career | 131 | 106 | 329 | 5,131 | 15.6 | 77 | 37 | ||