• Played running back, wide receiver, and sometimes defensive back in his five seasons with the Golden Bears (1960-65), during which time the team's record was 23 wins, 1 loss, and 2 ties.
• Received the Wilson Challenge Trophy in 1965 as the University's Outstanding Male Athlete.
• His Golden Bear career statistics of 96 pass receptions for 1,675 yards and 174 points on 29 touchdowns led to his selection as second pick overall in the 1965 Canadian Football League draft.
• Played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1965-70); named All-Star in 1967, 1968, and 1969; named All-Pro in 1968, and 1969.
• Received the CFL's Shenley Award as the Canadian Player of the Year (1968).

Originally from Edmonton, Ken Nielsen was successful in both academic and athletic pursuits. His football career began at the Bantam level on the southside of the city and continued at Strathcona Composite High School where he starred principally in football and basketball. Upon graduation in 1960, he enrolled at the University of Alberta in the pre-dentistry program and immediately became a top performer with the Golden Bear football team.

During his brilliant five year career as a running back, wide receiver, and sometimes defensive back, the Golden Bears amassed a record of 23 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties. In 1965 Ken was awarded the Wilson Challenge Trophy as the University's Outstanding Male Athlete.

Ken was drafted into the Canadian Football League by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and then was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He was the second draft choice in the nation that year, no doubt on the basis of a Golden Bear career record of 96 pass receptions for 1,675 yards, 174 points on 29 touchdowns.

While playing professional football with the Blue Bombers from 1965 to 1970, Ken was a league All-Star in 1967, 1968 and 1969, and All-Pro in 1968 and 1969. Such recognition was climaxed when he was named Schenley Canadian Player of the Year in 1968.

After the 1970 season, Ken retired from football to practice dentistry in his adopted home, Winnipeg.