Sports Media Report
There are few more multigenerational stars in Hollywood than Craig T. Nelson. From Poltergeist and “Coach” to All The Right Moves, The Incredibles and “Young Sheldon” amongst others, the Spokane, Washington native has a personality, and characters, that resonate with fans of all ages. This month Nelson has another project out which ties together many of his passions–sport, hard work and calling to action the issues facing many in middle America, especially those who have made the living on the rolling, and shrinking, farmland of the Heartland.
The film is called Green and Gold and Nelson plays Buck, a struggling Wisconsin family farmer who wagers everything on a high-stakes Championship bet–namely hoping the Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers win the Super Bowl–while his granddaughter’s musical ambitions could be their ticket to a new beginning. The film, directed by Anders Lindwall, captures the emotion and the challenges of farmers today, while linking to the passion any sports fan understands, the undying loyalty to the legendary Packers.
We caught up with Nelson just after he realized the dream of a lifetime, singing the national anthem on a brilliantly cold Sunday at Lambeau Field, before the Packers took on their rival Chicago Bears in the final regular season game of the 2024 season.
SportsMedia Report: You have had so many roles in your storied career, what made this special?
Craig T. Nelson: The storyline is one I understand fully, coming from a family so closely tied to farming and the Midwest. The plight of the American farmer today is very dire, and many people don’t understand or appreciate how vital these families are to our ecosystem. They are a vanishing breed, and their story needs to be told. I hope this film helps. It’s very important and emotional to me and bringing it to Wisconsin with ties to the Packers made it even more special.
SMR: You sang at Lambeau to promote the film, what was that like?
CTN: It was pretty overwhelming and I’m glad I got through it. For any sports fan, especially having played a coach a few times, walking down that tunnel where Bart Starr and Vince Lombardi and Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers walked is pretty special. Lambeau is hallowed ground, and it was great to be able to be a part of Packers history in some small way. It was an honor to be there.
SMR: Hayden Fox became an iconic character for so many reasons, did you feel a little of his influence when you were on the field?
CTN: It’s funny you do get a little caught in the moment, and I was lucky to spend some time on the sidelines when the players came out. You forget how young they are, and how huge they are with all that equipment on. I was really in awe listening to them, and although we spent a lot of time talking to coaches when we had the series, being there in Green Bay moments before kickoff was something even Hayden Fox would have enjoyed, for all the games he coached.
SMR: With your busy schedule, and being in LA, do you stay close to sports still?
CTN: For sure, I lived and died and was so proud of what the Dodgers did this year, it was so great to be around that organization as a fan. On the NFL side, I have been really impressed with all Sean McVay continues to do with the Rams. They too are such a solid organization, it’s great to be following them closely again as well. As far as the Packers go, it’s hard not to appreciate all they have done with this franchise, their leadership now under Mark Murphy and how they continue to be such a gold standard for all things positive about sports. The values of this film resonate really well with everyone in Wisconsin and the Packers family, and it was great to be able to link the two together with this film.
SMR: You have played characters that literally transcend generations, do you ever get a chance to think about that?
CTN: It’s really special, all the amazing roles I have played. Even in Green Bay you hear someone mention a line from The Incredibles and someone else yells “Coach Fox” or asks about another character. I really have enjoyed all the places I have been and the impact our work has had. I’m hopeful “Green and Gold” will continue that impact, this time to raise awareness for farmers, as well as its special connection to the Packers and football.
SMR: Lastly, how would Coach FOX, or Verne Nickerson, the high school football coach you played in All The Right Moves, stand up to the test of time in today’s college, pro or even high school environment today?
CTN: The world has changed so much since those roles. Social media, Name Image and Likeness, wider broadcasting, the demands on athletes and coaches is really, really challenging today, and I really admire the men and women who remain teachers trying to do things the right way. I think with both those coaches, they showed the ability to adapt and change and succeed, and I think that would hold true today. They were both successful because of the foundations laid around them and the people they worked with, and that wouldn’t have changed, I hope.
