Jack Nelson (American football)
[2][3][4] In April 1966, Nelson was named as the head football coach at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.[10] He helped lead the Vikings' Purple People Eaters defense to three Super Bowls in four years from 1974 to 1977.In addition to his career as a football coach, Nelson also owned and operated Jocko's Clearwater Lodge & Canoe Outfitters starting in 1964.[1] Nelson died in November 1978 at Southdale Hospital in Minneapolis, 18 days after suffering from a heart attack while playing racquetball or handball with Vikings' defensive coordinator Bob Hollway.[11] He died during the first quarter of the Vikings' game against the San Diego Chargers, and head coach Bud Grant learned of Nelson's death shortly before halftime.