Nettles played college football at Vanderbilt University where he was one of the two African-Americans on the team the other being Walt Overton. He was a member of the team that played in the 1974 Peach Bowl.
Nettles was drafted in the 5th round of the 1974 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts, who made him the 129th player selected that year. He would play for seven seasons in the National Football League for the Colts and the New York Giants, playing cornerback and special teams.
Nettles worked 18 years in medical sales. He was a fifth grade history teacher and fifth grade football coach until the end of the 2019 school year. He also coached lower school track at Landon School in Bethesda, Maryland.
References
^ abcWilt Browning (ed.), Baltimore Colts 1977 Media Guide. Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Colts Football Club, 1977, p. 38.