Gifford Nielsen

Stanley Gifford Nielsen (born October 25, 1954) is a former NFL quarterback who played for the Houston Oilers. He was the sports director of KHOU-TV in Houston, Texas, until March 31, 2009. He has been a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since April 2013.

High School Career

Nielsen grew up in Provo, Utah, and attended Provo High School, playing as the school's quarterback.

College career

After high school, he remained in Provo and began attending Brigham Young University (BYU), where he was an All-American quarterback, under head coach LaVell Edwards. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

NFL career

Nielsen was selected in the third round of the 1978 NFL draft by the Houston Oilers, the team with which he spent his entire NFL career. Nielsen played six seasons as a part-time quarterback. He served as backup to Dan Pastorini in 1978–79 and to Ken Stabler in 1980–81. He played the most games in his last two seasons, 1982–83, when he shared quarterbacking duties with Archie Manning and Oliver Luck. From 1984–87, he served as a color commentator on Oilers radio broadcasts.

LDS Church service

Nielsen has served in the LDS Church in many capacities, including elders quorum president, bishop, president of the Houston Texas South Stake, mission president's counselor, and area seventy. He was released as an area seventy on April 6, 2013, and called as a general authority and member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Scouting 100 year Anniversary

Nielsen was the master of ceremonies at the "100 Years of Scouting" celebration at Minute Maid Park in Texas.

See also

• List of college football yearly passing leaders

External links

• "General Authorities: S. Gifford Nielsen", lds.org.
• "Elder S. Gifford Nielsen", Liahona, May 2013.

Awards
Preceded by Jeff Dankworth Randolph H. Dean Steve Furniss John Hencken Gerald G. Huesken	NCAA Top Five Award Class of 1978 Michael J. Bourdeau Daniel R. Mackesey John Naber Gifford Nielsen Bryan L. Rodgers	Succeeded by Willie Banks Robert W. Dugas Steve Fuller Dan Harrigan James J. Kovach
Preceded by Richard C. Chapman Maurice "Bo" Ellis Herman Frazier Betsy King John Naber Rodney E. Slater	Silver Anniversary Awards (NCAA) Class of 2003 Debbie Brown Ann Meyers Drysdale Dale Kramer Kenneth MacAfee Warren Moon Gifford Nielsen	Succeeded by Trish Millines Dziko Bruce Furniss Virginia Gilder Stacey Johnson Gregory Kelser Kellen Winslow