Ranking the all-time best NFL offensive players out of BYU: #22

22.  Gifford Nielsen- after an impressive college career Nielsen was selected with the 73rd overall pick in the third round of the 1978 draft by the Houston Oilers.

Nielsen spent His entire six-year NFL career with the Oilers and appeared in 55 games including 14 starts.

During his career, Nielson completed almost 55 percent of his passes for 3,255 yards and 20 touchdowns.  He also carried the ball 29 times for 89 yards.

In his fourteen games as a starter, Nielsen and the Oilers managed only three wins.  His most impressive of those victories came during week 16 of the 1981 season.  During that game Nielsen completed 24-37 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns as the Oilers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 21-20.  That game was a part of Nielsen’s best season in the NFL.  Although he only played in five games that year and started two, Nielsen threw for 709 yards and five touchdowns on 64.5 percent completions.

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