Ryan McNeil (American football)
{{Short description|American football player (born 1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Ryan McNeil
| number = 47
| position = Cornerback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1970|10|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 210
| high_school = Fort Pierce Westwood
| college = Miami
| draftyear = 1993
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 33
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1993|1996}})
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|1997|1998}})
- Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|1999}})
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2000}})
- San Diego Chargers ({{NFL Year|2001|2002}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2003}})
| highlights =
- Pro Bowl (2001)
- NFL interceptions leader (1997)
- 2× National champion (1989, 1991)
- Consensus All-American (1992)
- 2× All-Big East (1991, 1992)
| statlabel1 = Tackles
| statvalue1 = 699
| statlabel2 = Interceptions
| statvalue2 = 31
| statlabel3 = Fumbles recovered
| statvalue3 = 14
| pfr = McNeRy20
}}
Ryan Darrell McNeil (born October 4, 1970) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, and earned All-American honors. He was selected by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1993 NFL draft, and also played professionally for the St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos of the NFL.
Early years
McNeil was born in Fort Pierce, Florida.National Football League, Historical Players, [http://www.nfl.com/player/ryanmcneil/2502049/profile Ryan McNeil]. Retrieved February 23, 2012. He attended Westwood High School,.databaseFootball.com, Players, {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070926222209/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MCNEIRYA01 Ryan McNeil]}}. Retrieved February 23, 2012. where he was a two-time offensive player of the year. As a senior free safety he registered 61 tackles (47 solo), six interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries. As a wide receiver he had 23 receptions for 323 yards and 4 touchdowns. In track, he won the district title in the long jump, triple jump and 440-yard dash.
College career
McNeil accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Miami. As a freshman, he was named the starter at cornerback after Kenny Berry was injured, finishing with 15 tackles (9 solo). The next year although he was platooned at the "field" cornerback position with Roland Smith and registered 34 tackles (19 solo), 6 passes defensed and one interception.
As a junior, he recorded 38 tackles (21 solo), 5 interceptions, 17 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In his last year he was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American at cornerback, after finishing with 34 tackles (23 solo), 10 passes defensed and 2 interceptions. He was a member of the Hurricanes' national championship teams in 1989 and 1991.
Professional career
The Detroit Lions traded up to select McNeil in the second round (33rd overall) of the 1993 NFL draft.{{Cite web |title=1993 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1993/draft.htm |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19930426&id=ZTVQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3lUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2471,2050120&hl=en|title=Ludington Daily News - Google News Archive Search}} He became the starter at left cornerback in his second season.Pro-Football-Reference.com, Players, [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNeRy20.htm Ryan McNeil]. Retrieved February 23, 2012. In 1995, he recorded 86 tackles and 2 interceptions.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1988&dat=19960619&id=BG4iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w6wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3768,4586301&hl=en|title = The Argus-Press - Google News Archive Search}} The next year, he had 5 interceptions.
In 1997, he was declared a free agent and chose to sign the St. Louis Rams, after an offer from the Lions was pulled after the firing of head coach Wayne Fontes.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19970708&id=fH0pAAAAIBAJ&sjid=VNgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2794,8115874&hl=en|title = The Southeast Missourian - Google News Archive Search}} At the end of the year, he led the NFL in interceptions with nine and also had 71 tackles. The next year his statistics dropped to one interception and 54 tackles.
With the Cleveland Browns in 1999, he registered 81 tackles and recovered four fumbles.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19991021&id=Gz4xAAAAIBAJ&sjid=rQMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3593,2400148&hl=en|title = Toledo Blade - Google News Archive Search}}
On March 2, 2000, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys reuniting with his former University of Miami secondary coach Dave Campo. He replaced Deion Sanders at right cornerback, who was waived in a salary cap move.{{Cite web |url=http://amarillo.com/stories/2000/03/03/spo_LD0683.001.shtml#.VSq2onl0yP8 |title=Cowboys sign cornerback McNeil | Amarillo.com | Amarillo Globe-News |access-date=April 12, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063026/http://amarillo.com/stories/2000/03/03/spo_LD0683.001.shtml#.VSq2onl0yP8 |url-status=dead }} Although the team wanted to keep him, the salary cap situation forced them to waive McNeil on February 28, 2001.
On March 3, 2001, he was signed by the San Diego Chargers.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1817&dat=20010304&id=dBofAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sKcEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2484,537654&hl=en|title=The Tuscaloosa News - Google News Archive Search}} In September, he was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Month. At the end of the season, he finished with 8 interceptions and was named to the Pro Bowl to replace an injured Sam Madison. In 2003, he was moved to free safety during training camp and was eventually released on August 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-13-sp-nflrep13-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times| date=August 13, 2003 }}
On November 11, 2003, he signed with the Denver Broncos to play as a nickel corner, but injuries limited him to 4 games.
Personal life
After McNeil retired from professional football, he founded the Professional Business & Financial Network, an organization designed to provide professional athletes with the fundamental tools they need to succeed in business. He is also the publisher of [http://www.ot-network.com/ OT Magazine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100426162816/http://www.ot-network.com/? |date=April 26, 2010 }}, a lifestyle magazine dedicated to helping professional athletes manage their money. His numerous business interests are managed by David Cornwell and Don West, Jr.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ot-network.com/company-profile.aspx |title=OT Magazine Company Profile |access-date=April 24, 2010 |archive-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100409151526/http://www.ot-network.com/company-profile.aspx |url-status=dead }}[http://www.writenews.com/2004/051404_overtime_magazine.htm Football Pro Ryan McNeil to Launch OverTime Magazine] Ryan is active in the sports technology industry as the Founder & CEO of SportsID.{{cite web |last1=Vega |first1=Muriel |title=SportsID Connects Young Athletes To The Right Sports Camp |date=March 22, 2017 |url=https://hypepotamus.com/companies/sportsid/ |access-date=March 22, 2017}} He also advises and invests in football technology businesses, such as FanWide.{{cite web |title=Sports Fan Club Network FanWide adds NFL Pro Bowler and Tech Leader Ryan McNeil as an Advisor |url=https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/sports-fan-club-network-fanwide-adds-nfl-pro-bowler-and-tech-leader-ryan-mcneil-as-an-advisor-1028320369 |access-date=July 1, 2019}} His father played tight end in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Roughriders.
References
{{Reflist|2}}
{{NFL season interception leaders}}
{{1989 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}}
{{1991 Miami Hurricanes football navbox}}
{{1992 NCAA Division I-A College Football Consensus All-Americans}}
{{Lions1993DraftPicks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNeil, Ryan}}
Category:All-American college football players
Category:American football cornerbacks
Category:American football safeties
Category:Cleveland Browns players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:Miami Hurricanes football players
Category:Sportspeople from Fort Pierce, Florida
Category:Players of American football from Florida