Quenton Nelson’s respectful pancake block is how football should be played

Ask a football expert who the best guard in the NFL is, and Quenton Nelson will probably be the first name out of their mouth. The Indianapolis Colts invested the No. 6 overall pick on Nelson coming out of Notre Dame in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he’s exceeded every reasonable expectation during the start of his pro career. Nelson is a three-time First-Team All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowl selection already who combines mauling run blocking with versatile and effective pass blocking.

As the Indianapolis Colts faced the Green Bay Packers in Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Nelson showed that he can still be menacing while also being respectful of his opponents. Watch this play where Colts QB Anthony Richardson rolls out of the pocket on a bootleg with Nelson pulling to protect his blindside. A Green Bay defender ran towards Richardson with his head facing the quarterback, going full speed into Nelson. This was a prime opportunity to deliver a decleating block that could have shown up on all the highlight reels as evidence of Nelson’s greatness. Instead, Nelson did the humane thing and gently put him down. Watch the play here:

This is an amazing block. It’s effective, it’s safe, and it shows a concern for your peers on the other team. Football is a violent game, but it doesn’t always have to be violent. Many of the bone-crushing hits that used to fill up highlight reels have no place in the game anymore. This block is just as successful as one that could have knocked the defender unconscious. Nelson showed care for his opponent without sacrificing anything for his team.

This is just another reason Nelson is the best in the business. There’s no one better to look up to for a young offensive lineman than Quenton Nelson.