{{Short description|American football player (born 1995)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Ryan Neal | image = | caption = | current_team = | number = | position = Safety | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|12|24|mf=y}} | birth_place = Hammond, Indiana, U.S. | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 200 | high_school = Merrillville {{avoid wrap|(Merrillville, Indiana)}} | college = Southern Illinois (2014–2017) | undraftedyear = 2018 | pastteams = * Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2018}})* * Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2018}}) * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2019|2022}}) * Tampa Bay Buccaneers ({{NFL Year|2023|2024}}) | status = | highlights = | statweek = | statseason = 2024 | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 239 | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = 2.0 | statlabel3 = Forced fumbles | statvalue3 = 1 | statlabel4 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue4 = | statlabel5 = Pass deflections | statvalue5 = 16 | statlabel6 = Interceptions | statvalue6 = 3 | pfr = N/NealRy00 }}
'''Ryan Christopher Neal''' (born December 24, 1995) is an American professional football safety. He played college football for the Southern Illinois Salukis, and has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Seattle Seahawks, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers 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.<ref name="The Southern"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailyegyptian.com/82639/sports/three-salukis-sign-nfl-deals/|title=Three Salukis sign NFL deals|first=Nathan|last=Dodd|work=The Daily Egyptian|date=April 30, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 1 7/8 | weight = 187 | dash = 4.47 | ten split = 1.58 | twenty split = 2.63 | shuttle = 4.29 | cone drill = 7.18 | vertical = 37.5 | broad ft = 10 | broad in = 7 | bench = 15 | arm span = 31 3/4 | hand span = 8 3/4 | wonderlic = | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=131630&DraftYear=2018 |title=Ryan Neal, Southern Illinois, FS, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=October 17, 2021}}</ref> }}
===Philadelphia Eagles=== Neal signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.<ref name="The Southern">{{cite web|url=https://thesouthern.com/sports/college/salukimania/former-saluki-ryan-gibson-signs-free-agent-deal-with-philadelphia/article_c54b173b-da83-5c36-a499-cacc46c26be2.html|title=Former Saluki Ryan Gibson signs free agent deal with Philadelphia|first=Todd|last=Hefferman|work=TheSouthern.com|publisher=The Southern Illinoisian|date=April 28, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> He was waived by the team during training camp on August 6, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/ryan-neal-released-by-philadelphia/|title=Ryan Neal: Released by Philadelphia|website=CBSSports.com|date=August 6, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref>
===Atlanta Falcons=== Neal was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-sign-defensive-back-ryan-neal-waive-tackle-kendall-calhoun|title=Falcons sign defensive back Ryan Neal, waive tackle Kendall Calhoun|first=Will|last=McFadden|work=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=August 11, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2018/9/2/17812380/falcons-announce-ten-practice-squad-signings-still-have-one-open-spot-ryan-neal-kurt-benkert|title=Falcons announce ten practice squad signings, still have one open spot|first=Dave|last=Choate|work=TheFalcoholic.com|publisher=SB Nation|date=September 2, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> Neal was promoted to the Falcons active roster on November 28, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/shelby-placed-neal-promote-roster/Ywi3rSbOuRLl2XloobQ2hM/|title=Falcons' Shelby placed on IR; Ryan Neal promoted to roster|first=D. Orlando|last=Ledbetter|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/football/whad-dan-quinn-said-after-the-loss-the-packers/raUIltR0EhijQQ09Orb9wI/|title=What Dan Quinn said after loss to Packers|first=D. Orlando|last=Ledbetter|work=AJC.com|publisher=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=December 9, 2018|access-date=December 9, 2018}}</ref> Neal was waived by the Falcons as part of the team's final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-2019-roster-announced|title=Falcons 2019 roster announced|first=Will|last=McFadden|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=August 31, 2019|access-date=September 2, 2019}}</ref>
===Seattle Seahawks=== Neal was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on September 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2019/09/02/a-look-at-the-newcomers-on-seattle-seahawks-practice-squad/|title=A look at the newcomers on Seattle Seahawks practice squad|first=Andy|last=Patton|website=Seahawks Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=September 2, 2019|access-date=September 2, 2019}}</ref> The Seahawks promoted Neal to the active roster on December 11, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-promote-ryan-neal-from-practice-squad-place-neiko-thorpe-on-injured-res|title=Seahawks Promote Ryan Neal From Practice Squad, Place Neiko Thorpe On Injured Reserve|first=John|last=Boyle|website=Seahawks.com|date=December 11, 2019}}</ref>
Neal re-signed with the Seahawks on April 20, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seahawks' Ryan Neal: Staying in Seattle |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/seahawks-ryan-neal-staying-in-seattle/ |website=CBSSports.com |date=April 20, 2020 |accessdate=April 21, 2020}}</ref> He was waived on September 5,<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves To Establish Initial 53-Man Roster|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-make-roster-moves-to-establish-initial-53-man-roster|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 5, 2020}}</ref> and signed to the practice squad the next day.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Sign 14 Players to Practice Squad, Including LB Shaquem Griffin|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-14-players-to-practice-squad-including-lb-shaquem-griffin|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 6, 2020}}</ref> He was elevated to the active roster on September 26 for the team's week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Boyle |first1=John |title=Seahawks Activate LB Shaquem Griffin & CB Ryan Neal From Practice Squad |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-activate-lb-shaquem-griffin-cb-ryan-neal-from-practice-squad |website=Seahawks.com |date=September 26, 2020 |accessdate=October 8, 2020}}</ref> With six seconds remaining in the game, he intercepted Dak Prescott in the end zone, sealing a 38–31 victory for the Seahawks.<ref>{{cite news |author=Boyd, James |title=Former Merrillville star Ryan Neal makes game-clinching interception for Seattle Seahawks |url=https://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/former-merrillville-star-ryan-neal-makes-game-clinching-interception-for-seattle-seahawks/article_0fa69662-1c71-5dd8-8dba-95c47a00b668.html |website=NWITimes.com |date=September 30, 2020 |accessdate=October 8, 2020}}</ref> After automatically reverting to the practice squad following the game, Neal was promoted to the active roster on September 30.<ref>{{cite web|title=Seahawks Promote Ryan Neal From Practice Squad; Sign Two To Practice Squad|url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-promote-ryan-neal-from-practice-squad-sign-two-to-practice-squad|author=Boyle, John|website=Seahawks.com|date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> On October 4, with Adams and Lano Hill still injured, he made his first start for the Seahawks in a game against the Miami Dolphins.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/seahawks-ryan-neal-slated-to-start-sunday/|title=Seahawks' Ryan Neal: Slated to start Sunday}}</ref> Neal made 6 tackles, and also collected his second interception, from Ryan Fitzpatrick.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thesouthern.com/sports/college/salukimania/salukis-in-the-nfl-neal-picks-off-another-chinn-leads-panthers-with-8-stops/article_727ec8b2-0e3d-5280-8edc-9f352eef05dd.html|title = Salukis in the NFL: Neal picks off another, Chinn leads Panthers with 8 stops}}</ref>
Neal signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Seahawks on June 8, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |author=Boyle, John |title=Seahawks Sign WR Travis Toivonen |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-wr-travis-toivonen |website=Seahawks.com |date=June 8, 2021 |access-date=June 16, 2021}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bucs Add Ascending Safety Ryan Neal to Secondary|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-add-ascending-safety-ryan-neal-to-secondary|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> He played in 15 games with 13 starts, recording a career-high 76 tackles.
On December 4, 2024, Neal was re-signed to the Buccaneers' practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bucs Sign Safety Ryan Neal to Practice Squad|url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/bucs-sign-safety-ryan-neal-practice-squad|author=Smith, Scott|website=Buccaneers.com|date=December 4, 2024}}</ref> He was promoted to the active roster on January 4, 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Scott |date=January 4, 2025 |title=Jordan Whitehead Injured in Auto Accident, Placed on Reserve/NFI |url=https://www.buccaneers.com/news/jordan-whitehead-injured-auto-accident-placed-reserve-nfi |access-date=January 5, 2025 |website=Buccaneers.com}}</ref>
==Personal life== Neal is the younger brother of former Green Bay Packers linebacker Mike Neal.<ref name="The Southern"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://siusalukis.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=307 Southern Illinois Salukis bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Ryan}} Category:1995 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Hammond, Indiana Category:American football safeties Category:Southern Illinois Salukis football players Category:Philadelphia Eagles players Category:Atlanta Falcons players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:Tampa Bay Buccaneers players