Steelers CB Steve Nelson speaks of 'positivity' in addressing ongoing racial tensions

On the eve of a scheduled video conference call with reporters, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Steve Nelson turned to Twitter and told his 28,000 followers he would have a few things to get off his chest.

“Tune in tomorrow,” he wrote. “I will be voicing my thoughts to the media on everything.”

Then, Nelson did precisely that. He used the 20-minute session Thursday afternoon to answer questions about an assortment of topics, many dealing with the social unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.

I don’t say much bc I don’t like to argue with twitter fingers I get personal but tune in tomorrow I will be voicing my thoughts to the media on everything oh yeah It’s all positive I don’t support negative period. #gn

— Steve Nelson (@Nelson_Island) June 4, 2020

Nelson’s most pointed remarks were directed at the demonstrations during Black Lives Matter protests that have turned violent in some cities since Floyd’s death 10 days ago.

“I do think things always have to get worse before they get better,” Nelson said. “If this is what it takes, if people have to protest, riot or loot to send a message, then that’s just what it is. I’m all for positivity and just trying to do everything the right way. That’s just me.

“This is not just in America. You see protesters all across the world. It’s a big deal. If it doesn’t change all of it, I think it changes a great amount. I think it’s good.”

Nelson also addressed Drew Brees’ comments Wednesday in which the New Orleans Saints quarterback said kneeling during the national anthem was disrespectful to the military and the American flag. Brees apologized Thursday, calling his words “insensitive.”

“A lot of people, including myself, look up to him,” Nelson said. “His statement was not sensitive to the whole situation. That itself rubbed a lot of people the wrong way — even myself. I’m glad he apologized for it. I don’t really hold grudges, but … it’s going to be hard to come back from that just because of what is going on right now.”

When he played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017, Nelson was not among the handful of players on his team who knelt during the national anthem after controversial remarks made by President Trump.

On Wednesday, he wrote on Twitter about the bond between Steelers ownership, coaches and players, calling it “second to none,” which was viewed in Kansas City as a shot at the Chiefs organization’s handling of the 2017 pre-game protests. Nelson spent four seasons with the Chiefs before joining the Steelers as a free agent in 2019.

“They let you be yourself. It’s not like walking around on egg shells,” Nelson said of the Steelers. “You see Mr. Rooney and his family always come down. He’s always in the building speaking to us. It feels at home from top to bottom.

“Coach Tomlin is a very down-to-earth guy. He’s a players’ coach and in our whole locker room and organization from the janitors to the lunch staff, the training staff, it’s just one big family. I just feel like I should shine some light on that.”

Nelson said Tomlin has used the team’s virtual team meetings to address the roiling racial tensions taking place across the country.

“We’re all about bringing positive change and trying to be the best people we can be and use these outlets for our country and try to use ourselves to bring everybody together, if that makes sense,” Nelson said. “We’ve been talking a few instances about everything that is going on. … We’re all trying to do our job. Nobody wants stuff like this to happen so we all try to do what we can from the side.”

Nelson is hopeful the racial divide won’t seep into the locker room, which he calls “a place for unity.” No Steelers player has followed former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s lead established in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem.

“You do have all types of races that you are around. You build that brotherhood. We don’t really feel racism that much inside the locker room,” Nelson said. “We can joke around with each other, and nobody gets offended. That’s the type of environment that you want to have. With our platform, yes, we do have a voice and we can try to spread that same love we have in the locker room to the whole world.”

Nelson also said it was important to use his social media accounts to spread his message of “positivity.”

“That’s the good thing about being professional athlete,” he said. “We have a big platform to speak up for people and voice our opinions and our thoughts. We try to create change the best way we can. A lot of guys have big followings on social media, so I think that’s a great start for guys like myself to spread positivity and love throughout our country.

“God knows we need it right now in spite of what is going on.”