Ryan Christopher Neal (born December 24, 1995) is an American professional football safety. He played college football at Southern Illinois, and has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers while in the NFL.

Ryan Neal
Personal information
Born: (1995-12-24) December 24, 1995 (age 28)
Hammond, Indiana, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Merrillville (Merrillville, Indiana)
College:Southern Illinois
Position:Safety
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:236
Sacks:2.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:16
Interceptions:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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Neal played four seasons at Southern Illinois, compiling 226 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 19 passes defensed.[1] As a senior, Neal led the team with three interceptions and tied for the team lead with 84 tackles and was named honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference.[2]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+78 in
(1.88 m)
187 lb
(85 kg)
31+34 in
(0.81 m)
8+34 in
(0.22 m)
4.47 s 1.58 s 2.63 s 4.29 s 7.18 s 37.5 in
(0.95 m)
10 ft 7 in
(3.23 m)
15 reps
All values from Pro Day[3]

Philadelphia Eagles

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Neal signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[1] He was waived by the team during training camp on August 6, 2018.[4]

Atlanta Falcons

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Neal was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 11, 2018.[5] However, he failed to make the 53-man roster out of training camp and was subsequently re-signed by the Falcons to the team's practice squad on September 2, 2018.[6] Neal was promoted to the Falcons active roster on November 28, 2018.[7] Neal made his NFL debut on December 9, 2018, in a 34–20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, playing on special teams in the only regular season appearance of his rookie season.[8] Neal was waived by the Falcons as part of the team's final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[9]

Seattle Seahawks

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Neal was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on September 2, 2019.[10] The Seahawks promoted Neal to the active roster on December 11, 2019.[11]

Neal re-signed with the Seahawks on April 20, 2020.[12] He was waived on September 5, 2020,[13] and signed to the practice squad the next day.[14] He was elevated to the active roster on September 26 for the team's week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys.[15] With six seconds remaining in the game, he intercepted Dak Prescott in the end zone, sealing a 38–31 victory for the Seahawks.[16] After automatically reverting to the practice squad following the game, Neal was promoted to the active roster on September 30, 2020.[17] On October 4, 2020, with Adams and Lano Hill still injured, he made his first start for the Seahawks in a game against the Miami Dolphins.[18] Neal made 6 tackles, and also collected his second interception, from Ryan Fitzpatrick.[19]

Neal signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Seahawks on June 8, 2021.[20]

Neal's restricted free agent tender that he was offered in the 2023 off-season was rescinded by the team on March 31, 2023. This move by the Seahawks officially made Neal a free agent.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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Neal signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 4, 2023.[21]

Personal life

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Neal is the younger brother of former Green Bay Packers linebacker Mike Neal.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hefferman, Todd (April 28, 2018). "Former Saluki Ryan Gibson signs free agent deal with Philadelphia". TheSouthern.com. The Southern Illinoisian. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  2. ^ Dodd, Nathan (April 30, 2018). "Three Salukis sign NFL deals". The Daily Egyptian. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ryan Neal, Southern Illinois, FS, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ryan Neal: Released by Philadelphia". CBSSports.com. August 6, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  5. ^ McFadden, Will (August 11, 2018). "Falcons sign defensive back Ryan Neal, waive tackle Kendall Calhoun". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  6. ^ Choate, Dave (September 2, 2018). "Falcons announce ten practice squad signings, still have one open spot". TheFalcoholic.com. SB Nation. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  7. ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (November 28, 2018). "Falcons' Shelby placed on IR; Ryan Neal promoted to roster". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  8. ^ Ledbetter, D. Orlando (December 9, 2018). "What Dan Quinn said after loss to Packers". AJC.com. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
  9. ^ McFadden, Will (August 31, 2019). "Falcons 2019 roster announced". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  10. ^ Patton, Andy (September 2, 2019). "A look at the newcomers on Seattle Seahawks practice squad". Seahawks Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  11. ^ Boyle, John (December 11, 2019). "Seahawks Promote Ryan Neal From Practice Squad, Place Neiko Thorpe On Injured Reserve". Seahawks.com.
  12. ^ "Seahawks' Ryan Neal: Staying in Seattle". CBSSports.com. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  13. ^ Boyle, John (September 5, 2020). "Seahawks Make Roster Moves To Establish Initial 53-Man Roster". Seahawks.com.
  14. ^ Boyle, John (September 6, 2020). "Seahawks Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad, Including LB Shaquem Griffin". Seahawks.com.
  15. ^ Boyle, John (September 26, 2020). "Seahawks Activate LB Shaquem Griffin & CB Ryan Neal From Practice Squad". Seahawks.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  16. ^ Boyd, James (September 30, 2020). "Former Merrillville star Ryan Neal makes game-clinching interception for Seattle Seahawks". NWITimes.com. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  17. ^ Boyle, John (September 30, 2020). "Seahawks Promote Ryan Neal From Practice Squad; Sign Two To Practice Squad". Seahawks.com.
  18. ^ "Seahawks' Ryan Neal: Slated to start Sunday".
  19. ^ "Salukis in the NFL: Neal picks off another, Chinn leads Panthers with 8 stops".
  20. ^ Boyle, John (June 8, 2021). "Seahawks Sign WR Travis Toivonen". Seahawks.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
  21. ^ Smith, Scott (April 6, 2023). "Bucs Add Ascending Safety Ryan Neal to Secondary". Buccaneers.com.
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