Ryan Neal
No. 23 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Safety
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
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:236
Sacks:2.0
Forced fumbles:1
Pass deflections:16
Interceptions:3
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

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

College career

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

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+7⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		187 lb
(85 kg) 		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m) 		8+3⁄4 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

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

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

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

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

Personal life

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

References

  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.

External links

Authority control databases
Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster
Categories