Sports
Rocky Nelson, Woburn Football Coaching Legend, Dies At 74
Nelson, who spent decades on the sideline, was more than a coach in Woburn.
WOBURN, MA — Rocky Nelson, a Massachusetts high school football coaching legend and Woburn institution, died Sunday morning after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was 74.
Nelson took over as head coach in 1986 after 16 years on the coaching staff. He won 208 games and a Super Bowl in 2005, making four Super Bowls during his tenure as head coach. Nelson was also the defensive coordinator for 1975 and 1979 Super Bowl-winning teams.
Nelson resigned in 2016. His last game was a 22-21 Thanksgiving victory over Winchester. Watch his last pregame speech here.
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Woburn Athletic Director Jim Duran, who played for Nelson in the '80s, told The Boston Globe Nelson's battle with cancer lasted only four or five weeks.
Image via shutterstock
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