Joe Nelms was drafted No. 297 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1989 NFL Draft out of California. No regular-season snaps on record.
- Overall pick
- #297
- Round
- 11
- Draft class
- 1989
The pick
How Joe Nelms came off the board in 1989.
- Position
- Defensive tackle DT
- College
-
California
ACC at the draft
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
No regular-season snaps on record.
No regular-season career on record yet.
Games, starts, and approximate value appear here once the season data lands.
See the rest of the 1989 classAround pick 297
Who came off the board on either side of Joe Nelms.
Northwestern
Georgia
West Virginia
UT Martin
California in the 1989 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Other DT picks from California
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Joe Nelms in the 1989 NFL Draft
Joe Nelms is a Defensive tackle out of California selected No. 297 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1989 NFL Draft. No regular-season snaps on record. California has produced 138 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Joe Nelms drafted?
Joe Nelms was selected No. 297 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 1989 NFL Draft (Rd 11). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1989/joe-nelms.
What college did Joe Nelms play for?
Joe Nelms played college football at California in the ACC. See every California draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/california-golden-bears.
How did Joe Nelms's NFL career turn out?
No regular-season snaps on record. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/1989/joe-nelms.