Nelson Toburen: key obituary facts
Is Nelson Toburen dead? Yes. Nelson Toburen died on October 4, 2026, at age 87.
Cause of death: Nelson Toburen's cause of death was reported as Cancer.
What was Nelson Toburen known for?
He was an American football player.
More about Nelson Toburen
Born: 24 November 1938.
Place of birth: Boulder.
Gender: male.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Colby High School.
Also known as: Nelson Edward Toburen.
Nelson Toburen, an American football player who played linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, died of pancreatic cancer on October 4, 2026, aged 87.
Born Nelson Edward Toburen in Boulder, Colorado, on November 24, 1938, he attended Colby High School in Kansas, where he played football, before continuing his education and playing career at Wichita State. With the Shockers, Toburen played college football as an end, a position distinct from the linebacker role he later held in the NFL.
Green Bay selected him in the 14th round, 194th overall, of the 1961 NFL draft. He joined the Packers during Vince Lombardi’s third season as head coach, when the team went on to win the NFL championship, its first since 1944. Toburen was a reserve linebacker as a rookie, with most of his playing time coming on special teams. A serious neck injury in his second season ended his NFL career. After leaving professional football, he attended law school and eventually became a judge. His career thus moved from football at two Kansas schools to the Packers and, after injury ended his time in the NFL, to the legal profession.