His education was put on hold by Army service in World War II.

Nickel's career with the Steelers almost didn't happen, since he received an offer from the local Cincinnati Reds to play baseball, but Nickel opted to sign with Pittsburgh and play football instead of baseball.

[citation needed] Nickel was selected to the Pittsburgh Steelers' Hall of Honor in 2019 along with tight end, tackle Larry Brown, coach Bill Cowher and wide receiver Hines Ward.

In 2022, Nickel was inducted into the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This biographical article relating to an American football tight end born in the 1920s is a stub.