Gifford Nielsen

#14 · Oilers
Retired 6 Years In The NFL
🏆 WAC Offensive Player of the Year (1976)
Gifford's
HAIR
9.7
HeyTC AI Rating

Questions about Gifford Nielsen or the Oilers?

Gifford Nielsen Legacy

HEYTC AI
Gifford Nielsen, the lanky Provo gunslinger with a cannon arm and a Heisman sniff, lit up BYU like a desert fireworks show—leading the nation in touchdown passes as a junior, shattering 13 WAC records, and earning All-American nods before a cruel injury cut his senior year short. His No. 14 hangs retired in Provo, a testament to that 243-yards-per-game blaze. In Houston, the third-rounder stepped into Luv Ya Blue lore, outdueling Dan Fouts' Air Coryell in a miraculous 17-14 playoff stunner, the last Oilers QB to reach the AFC Championship. College Hall of Famer, eternal underdog hero.

Gifford Nielsen Rating Breakdown

Season
Subpar
Fantasy
Subpar
Playoffs
Non-Factor
Overall
NPC
6 years with the Oilers

Gifford Nielsen Career Stats via Wikipedia

3,255 Pass Yards
20 Touchdowns
22 INTs
54.8% Comp %
9.7 HAIR

Frequently Asked Questions About Gifford Nielsen

Is Gifford Nielsen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

No, Gifford Nielsen isn't in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton—his 3,255 NFL yards and 20 TDs over six Oilers seasons didn't punch that ticket. But check his college shine: BYU star with a College Football Hall of Fame nod in '94 and an NCAA Silver Anniversary Award in '03. Guy was a passing wizard in Provo, just couldn't sustain it in the pros.

What is Gifford Nielsen doing now in 2026?

In 2026, Nielsen's emeritus as a General Authority Seventy since August 2024, freeing him up in St. George to golf at Sand Hollow, dote on grandkids, and hit podcasts dissecting NFL schemes. Fresh off Africa West Area president duties, he's still traveling for the Church, BYU chats, and radio spots—classic post-career pivot from Oilers QB to eternal optimist.

How would Gifford Nielsen perform in today's NFL?

Nielsen's quick-release, BYU passing tree roots—think 3,192 yards and 29 TDs in '76—would feast under today's pass-happy rules, no huddle, and RPOs. Modern protections would've juiced his 9.7 NFL rating; he'd thrive like a pocket Reid disciple, reading defenses he still breaks down on TV. Oilers fans dream of that what-if.

How does Gifford Nielsen compare to Dan Pastorini?

Nielsen took the Oilers reins from Pastorini, but his 9.7 passer rating got smoked by Dan's 32.4 over those wildcat years—Pastorini's cannon arm and legs fit Earl Campbell's thunder, while Gifford's cerebral, BYU-style drops couldn't match the grit. Both franchise gunslingers, yet Pastorini was the bigger beast in Houston's Luv Ya Blue era.