He played junior hockey for the Ottawa 67's and the Kitchener Rangers from 1967-1970 and then went to Michigan Tech from 1970-1974. The Detroit Red Wings chose him 86th overall in the 1971 NHL Amateur Draft. After graduating from Michigan Tech, Nahrgang turned pro with the Virginia Wings and played one game with Detroit in 1974-75. He got some significant time with the Red Wings in 1976-77, playing 53 games. But Detroit was going for other defencemen and Nahrgang found himself in the minors again in 1977-78. He retired in 1978.