Ralph Eugene Neely (September 12, 1943 – January 5, 2022) was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL). He played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.
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| Position: | Offensive tackle | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | September 12, 1943 Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Died: | January 5, 2022 (aged 78) | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 265 lb (120 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Farmington (NM) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1965 / round: 2 / pick: 28 | ||||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1965 / round: 2 / pick: 15 (by the Houston Oilers)[1] | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Early life
editNeely attended Farmington High School, where he was an All-State tackle for two years in football, and a standout center for the basketball team.
He was recruited by the University of Oklahoma, where he played college football under coaches Bud Wilkinson and Gomer Jones. Neely was a 261-pound tackle who played both ways, as a dominant performer on defense and an excellent blocker on offense. He was named the Big Eight sophomore lineman of the year and was a two-time All-American and an all-conference selection in both 1963 and '64.
Neely was one of three Sooners stars who missed the 1965 Gator Bowl game against Florida State University. Neely, fullback Jim Grisham and halfback Lance Rentzel signed with professional teams before the game, and were ruled ineligible for the contest, which Florida State won 36–19 on the strength of four touchdown catches by Fred Biletnikoff.
Professional career
editIn 1965, he was drafted in the second round of both the 1965 NFL draft (by the Baltimore Colts) and the 1965 AFL Draft (by the Houston Oilers). On August 29, 1965, the Colts traded his NFL contractual rights to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Billy Lothridge and a fourth-round selection (#54-Rod Sherman) in the 1966 NFL draft.[2]
Neely accepted the Oilers contract offer (which also included rights to own a Houston gas station), but requested it be kept secret to remain eligible to play in the Gator Bowl. When he learned that the Colts traded his rights to the Cowboys, he began negotiating with Dallas, and returned his check to the Oilers. Litigation ensued between the Oilers and Cowboys in regards to his rights.[3][4]
A rookie in 1965, he joined the Cowboys just as they were beginning their ascent in the NFL, became an immediate starter at right offensive tackle and was named to the NFL all-rookie team. With great quickness for his size, he became a dominant player on the Cowboys offensive line for 13 seasons.
One of the terms of the merger agreement between the NFL and the AFL was that the Neely contract dispute be resolved. In 1966, the Cowboys finally agreed with the Oilers to send multiple draft choices (a first (#23-Tom Regner), second (#49-Roy Hopkins) and two fifth round choices (#119-Willie Parker & #127-Zeke Moore) in the 1967 NFL draft), pay all of the court costs and to start the annual pre-season game the Governor's Cup between the two teams.[5]
Neely was a four-time All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler in 1967 and 1969. In 1970, he was moved to right guard during training camp, because of the improved play of Rayfield Wright at right tackle, in order for the team to have the best player combination possible in the offensive line. He replaced Tony Liscio who had a back injury at left offensive tackle during the fifth game of the season. The move became permanent and Neely manned the position until 1977, while continuing to be one of the NFL's premier offensive linemen.
He was injured halfway into the Cowboys victorious 1971 Super Bowl season, when he fractured his left leg in an off-road motorcycle accident; forcing him to miss the last 7 games and the playoffs.[6]
In 1977, Neely retired after the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos.[7] He was selected to the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, though Neely has yet to join his bookend partner Wright, in the Pro Football Hall of Fame or in the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor.
Later life and death
editIn 2018, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Neely to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018.[8]
Neely died on January 5, 2022, at the age of 78.[9] He was living with dementia and the effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) prior to his death.[10]
References
edit- ^ "1965 AFL Draft". Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
- ^ "Cowboys Trade Lothridge To Baltimore Colts," The Associated Press (AP), Monday, August 30, 1965. Retrieved February 15, 2014
- ^ Houston Oilers, Inc., Appellant, v. Ralph Neely, Appellee, 361 F.2d 36 (10th Cir. 1966) – Justia.com. Retrieved May 25, 2020
- ^ "Oilers' Suit Against Neely Upheld By Supreme Court," The Associated Press (AP), Tuesday, October 11, 1966. Retrieved February 15, 2014
- ^ "The curious case of Houston vs. Dallas". UHCL Signal. November 3, 2014.
- ^ "Cowboys Lose Neely," United Press International (UPI), Tuesday, November 2, 1971. Retrieved February 15, 2014
- ^ "Cowboys' Neely to Retire". Associated Press. December 23, 1977.
- ^ "PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2018". Retrieved September 20, 2019.
- ^ Williams, Charean (January 5, 2022). "Former Cowboys offensive lineman Ralph Neely dies at 78". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
- ^ Widow of Dallas Cowboys great Ralph Neely says his final years were destroyed by CTE