Lew Nichols III Bio
Arthur Lewis Nichols III, known professionally as Lew Nichols III, is an American professional football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on August 16, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan, he rose to national prominence during his college career at Central Michigan, where he led the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards during the 2021 regular season. He joined the NFL after being selected in the 2023 NFL Draft and has since spent time with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles before landing in Pittsburgh.
Nichols stands 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 220 pounds. His combination of vision, balance, and physicality between the tackles has marked him as a productive interior runner throughout his football journey.
Early Life and Background
Arthur Lewis Nichols III was born on August 16, 2001, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a city with a deep and celebrated football tradition, surrounded by a culture that has produced generations of elite athletes. From an early age, Nichols gravitated toward football, developing his skills through neighborhood play and organized youth competition.
He attended Cass Technical High School in Detroit, one of the most storied football programs in the state of Michigan. At Cass Tech, Nichols played under head coach Thomas Wilcher, a respected mentor known for preparing athletes for the next level. As a senior in 2018, he delivered an outstanding final season, rushing for 1,078 yards and 23 touchdowns on just 84 carries, averaging nearly 12.8 yards per attempt. His dominant play earned him all-state recognition from the Detroit Free Press, The Detroit News, and the Associated Press.
Nichols’s high school résumé drew interest from Mid-American Conference programs, and he ultimately committed to Central Michigan, where he would go on to rewrite portions of the school’s rushing record book.
Path to American Football
Nichols enrolled at Central Michigan in 2019 and immediately began adjusting to the speed and complexity of the college game. He appeared in four contests during his first season, carrying the ball 19 times for 89 yards while learning the offensive system. That limited role served as a developmental foundation rather than a setback.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, Nichols emerged as a redshirt freshman and a true breakout talent. He rushed for 508 yards on 78 carries, an average of 6.5 yards per attempt, and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 31–23 rivalry victory over Eastern Michigan. His impact was recognized across the conference, as he earned the Mid-American Conference Offensive Freshman of the Year award.
Thanks to special eligibility rules enacted during the pandemic-altered 2020 season, Nichols repeated as a redshirt freshman in 2021, and the extra year accelerated his transformation into one of the most productive rushers in college football. His path from Cass Tech standout to MAC star was complete by the end of that record-setting 2021 campaign.
Lew Nichols III Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
Nichols’s earliest college snaps came in 2019, when he served in a complementary role behind more experienced Central Michigan backs. His four-game appearance window allowed him to adjust to the pace and physicality of FBS football, and the experience proved valuable once injuries and depth-chart moves opened the door to expanded duty in 2020.
The 2020 season represented his true arrival. Nichols posted 508 rushing yards and demonstrated his finishing ability with clutch touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Eastern Michigan. His Freshman of the Year recognition confirmed that Central Michigan had found a featured back capable of carrying the offense for years to come.
Central Michigan Chippewas Breakthrough (2021)
The 2021 season was the defining chapter of Nichols’s college career. Operating as Central Michigan’s workhorse back, he led all players in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision with 1,710 rushing yards during the regular season. He also paced the nation with 311 carries, reflecting both his durability and his importance to the Chippewas offensive game plan.
Nichols produced nine 100-yard rushing games that season, including standout performances of 219 yards against Ball State, 215 yards against Kent State, 194 yards against Eastern Michigan, 192 yards against Northern Illinois, and 186 yards against Ohio. His 1,710-yard total stood as the second-highest single-season rushing mark in Central Michigan history, trailing only Brian Pruitt’s 1,890-yard campaign from 1994.
His dominant season earned him the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year award and First-team All-MAC honors. Despite leading the nation in rushing, Nichols was not named a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award, a snub that nonetheless did not diminish his standing as one of the premier running backs in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
Green Bay Packers Era (2023)
Nichols heard his name called during the 2023 NFL Draft when the Green Bay Packers selected him 235th overall. He signed his rookie contract on May 5 and reported to the Packers’ training camp with the goal of carving out a depth role in the team’s backfield rotation.
His initial Packers stint was short-lived. On August 29, 2023, he was waived with an injury designation and placed on injured reserve. He was released on September 7, bringing his Green Bay tenure to an early close.
Philadelphia Eagles Era (2023–2025)
On October 16, 2023, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Nichols to their practice squad, providing him with an opportunity to continue his professional development. He signed a reserve/future contract with Philadelphia on January 18, 2024, signaling the organization’s continued interest in his long-term upside.
Nichols remained with the Eagles organization through multiple transactions. He was waived on August 27, 2024, re-signed to the practice squad on December 26, 2024, and released again on December 31, 2024. He returned to the practice squad on January 30, 2025, before being waived once more on July 22. His time in Philadelphia was defined by perseverance, frequent transitions between the active roster and the practice squad, and steady refinement of his special teams and backfield responsibilities.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2025–Present)
On July 29, 2025, Nichols signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, marking the most significant opportunity of his NFL career to date. He was waived on August 25 and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, a sequence that underscored Pittsburgh’s interest in retaining his services.
Nichols made his NFL debut on November 2, 2025, against the Indianapolis Colts. He contributed on special teams and combined on one tackle, a measured but meaningful first step at the professional level. His journey from undrafted free-agent prospect to active-game contributor reflects a relentless work ethic and steady improvement across multiple organizations.
Driving Style and Strengths
Nichols is recognized for his interior running style, characterized by strong contact balance, decisive cuts, and a low pad level through the line of scrimmage. His vision between the tackles and his willingness to finish runs have allowed him to thrive in volume-carry systems. He has also shown the versatility and discipline required to contribute on special teams, an attribute that has helped him maintain employment across multiple NFL franchises.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Nichols’s signature accomplishments are his 2021 FBS-leading 1,710 rushing yards, his nine 100-yard rushing games that season, and his 1,078-yard, 23-touchdown senior campaign at Cass Technical High School. He also earned three major MAC awards: Freshman of the Year in 2020 and both Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-MAC in 2021. His NFL debut with the Pittsburgh Steelers in November 2025 added another career milestone to his growing ledger.
Lew Nichols III Career Wins
Lew Nichols III has built his professional profile primarily on consistent production and durability rather than a lengthy list of championship victories. His most celebrated win to date is the 31–23 rivalry victory over Eastern Michigan in 2020, a game in which he sealed the outcome with two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns. While postseason championship hardware has remained elusive at the professional level, his 2021 college accolades position him as one of the more accomplished Mid-American Conference running backs of his era.
Central Michigan Chippewas Highlights
Nichols’s Central Michigan highlights include his 2021 FBS rushing title with 1,710 yards, his 311 carries that led the nation, and his nine 100-yard rushing performances in a single season. He registered five signature games of 186 yards or more against Ball State, Kent State, Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, and Ohio. His 2020 Freshman of the Year campaign and his 2021 Offensive Player of the Year and First-team All-MAC selections underscore a college résumé that ranks among the most productive in program history.
Other Wins and Performances
At Cass Technical High School, Nichols delivered a marquee senior season with 1,078 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns on only 84 carries, capping his prep career with all-state honors from three major Michigan outlets. His professional ledger began with rookie-contract signings in Green Bay and Philadelphia before his NFL debut with Pittsburgh in November 2025, where his first career tackle marked the opening chapter of his league résumé.
Lew Nichols III Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Lew Nichols III grew up in Detroit, Michigan, where he was immersed in a city with one of the richest football heritages in the country. His hometown has produced generations of professional players, a lineage that influenced his path into the sport.
Personal Life
Publicly verified details about Nichols’s personal and family life remain limited. He is known by his professional name, Lew Nichols III, a tribute to his family lineage. Outside of football, he has focused much of his energy on professional development as he has navigated multiple NFL organizations.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has represented the most encouraging stretch of Nichols’s professional career. After a series of practice-squad moves with the Philadelphia Eagles, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on July 29, 2025, and quickly integrated into the team’s backfield plans. Although he was waived on August 25 and re-signed to the practice squad the same day, his continued presence on the roster signaled Pittsburgh’s belief in his developmental trajectory.
Nichols made his NFL debut on November 2, 2025, against the Indianapolis Colts, appearing on special teams and combining for one tackle. That appearance, though brief, marked a tangible milestone and validated the patience he has shown through roster churn and practice-squad transitions over the past two seasons.
Looking ahead, Nichols enters the remainder of the 2025 season as a depth option and special teams contributor with the Steelers. His combination of proven college production, pass-catching upside, and special teams willingness gives him a clear path to expand his role as the season progresses, provided he continues to deliver in his current capacity.