Joseph Burel Nicely (November 26, 1934 – September 24, 2010) was an American football offensive guard in the Canadian Football League for the Montreal Alouettes. He also was a member of the Washington Redskins in the National Football League. He played college football at West Virginia University.

Nicely attended Rupert High School.^[1] To play football, he had to walk 6 to 8 miles home after each practice.^[2]

He accepted a football scholarship from West Virginia University, where he became a starter at offensive guard offense and a middle guard on defense.^[2] As a senior, he missed three games with a broken bone in his hand. He participated in the Blue–Gray Football Classic, Senior Bowl and Chicago College All-Star Game.^[3]

Nicely was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the third round (35th overall) of the 1958 NFL Draft.^[4] He was waived before the start of the season on September 9.^[5]

On September 12, 1958, he signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.^[6] He appeared in 5 games as a backup at offensive guard and offensive tackle. He was released on October 14.^[7]

On January 28, 1959, he signed with the Washington Redskins, where he was tried at center.^[8] On September 15, he was placed on the team's reserve list with an injury and was later signed to the taxi squad.^[9]

In 1960, Nicely was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the expansion draft. He suffered from a blood infection that turned out to be Hepatitis C and did not make the team.^[10]

Nicely had three fingers cut off from his right hand in an accident he had during his youth.^[2] He died on September 24, 2008.^[11]