Keisean Nixon Had A Terrific Redemption Story Against Chicago

The Green Bay Packers’ defense was buzzing early on against the Chicago Bears. With nine minutes left to go in the first half, the Bears had just one total first down. Then all hell broke loose.

In the span of five plays run, Keisean Nixon was tagged with two bone-headed penalties that helped spark Chicago’s drive.

The end of the game was a redemption story that is fitting of this rivalry.

Keisean Nixon was called for illegal hands to the face after getting caught up with Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore. It looked more like a frustration play from Nixon than an accidental infraction. What would’ve been a third-and-eight for a Chicago offense that wasn’t moving the ball turned into an automatic first down.

Just a few plays later, Nixon decided to get in the middle of another fracas. It looked like Chicago wideout Luther Burden choked Nixon, which caused Nixon to slap his arms away, thus drawing the penalty. Still, why is Nixon even antagonizing in any fashion at that point? He just got tagged for a penalty that helped extend the drive!

Head coach Matt LaFleur pulled Nixon from the game for a brief period, and the Fox broadcast showed the head coach chewing out the cornerback.

Penalties, and some pretty silly ones, aren’t new to Nixon. He leads all defensive players in the NFL this year with 12 penalties called against him. Three of those have fallen into the other/unnecessary roughness/unsportsmanlike conduct category. Sunday was just the latest.

That drive ended in three points for Chicago.

Nixon comes from the Jaire Alexander school of trash talk; there is plenty of it each week. Nixon is an irritant, but occasionally doesn’t know where the line in the sand is drawn. The difference between him and Alexander is that Alexander was a two-time All-Pro and, at his peak, one of the best corners in football. Nixon might have the label as No. 1 cornerback in Green Bay, but even that’s debatable with the year Carrington Valentine has had.

Had the Packers lost, fans far and wide would have hounded Nixon. Instead, they’re praising him because it was his interception of Caleb Williams on a fourth-and-one that ended the game and put the Packers offense in victory formation.

Nixon did an incredible job identifying what Williams was going to do and cutting loose from his assignment of Moore to track the pass intended for tight end Cole Kmet in the end zone. It wasn’t only Nixon’s first interception of the year, but also the first interception by any Packers cornerback this season. It’s a group that has talent but lacks a ballhawk. Nixon’s play at the end reigned supreme.

After the game, Nixon’s teammates showered him with praise across the board.

“I’ll say, he was saving my butt on that play,” safety Evan Williams said. “I was praying someone was behind me to make a play on the corner, and sure enough, Jesus himself, No. 25, came out of the blue.”

Josh Jacobs, who also played with Nixon on the Raiders, has seen the progression over the years firsthand.

Just to see the way he responds and the belief that he has in himself, I’m proud of him, man. Just to see him come in as a rookie and didn’t really have a good work ethic. Was a little chubby coming in and just seeing him where he’s at now, as soon as he came to this point, how he dedicated himself to football and how he slowly each year and really each week he’s gotten better at his position.

As for Nixon? His response when he was asked if he sees what others say about his play is exactly what you would expect from the fiery cornerback who isn’t afraid to speak up.

”I don’t care. I do this (expletive) for me,” Nixon said. “(Expletive) everybody else. Excuse my language, but I am who I say I am, and I always tell myself that.”

What about the play that ended the game? That response was more tame from Nixon, but the passion in the words still oozes through.

“I’ve been trying to get my hand on the ball all year,” said Nixon. “I thought I was going to get. … Yeah, I wanted that bad. I wanted it so bad. So I’m thankful for it, for sure.”

Nixon went from having an angry mob forming against him to becoming the hero who clinched the game, all in the span of two quarters. He isn’t going to change who he is; that’s apparent. Finding ways to channel the energy so it doesn’t cost penalties continues to be a work in progress, but this week, he made the game-changing play that put another “W” on Green Bay’s schedule.