View source for Neil O'Donnell

{{Short description|American football player (born 1966)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| image       = NeilTitans.jpg
| caption     = O’Donnell with the Tennessee Titans
| position    = [[Quarterback]]
| number      = 14, 12
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1966|7|3}}
| birth_place = [[Morristown, New Jersey]], U.S.
| height_ft   = 6
| height_in   = 3
| weight_lbs  = 228
| death_date  = 
| draftyear   = 1990
| draftround  = 3
| draftpick   = 70
| high_school = [[Madison High School (New Jersey)|Madison]] {{nowrap|([[Madison, New Jersey]])}}
| college     = [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland]] (1986–1989)
| teams       =
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ([[1990 NFL season|1990]]–[[1995 NFL season|1995]])
* [[New York Jets]] ([[1996 NFL season|1996]]–[[1997 NFL season|1997]])
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ([[1998 NFL season|1998]])
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ([[1999 NFL season|1999]]–[[2003 NFL season|2003]])
| highlights  =
* [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1993 Pro Bowl|1992]])
| statlabel1  = Passing attempts
| statvalue1  = 3,229
| statlabel2  = Passing completions
| statvalue2  = 1,865
| statlabel3  = Completion percentage
| statvalue3  = 57.8
| statlabel4  = [[Touchdown|TD]]–[[Interception|INT]]
| statvalue4  = 120–68
| statlabel5  = Passing yards
| statvalue5  = 21,690
| statlabel6  = [[Passer rating]]
| statvalue6  = 81.8
| pfr         = O/ODonNe00 
}}

'''Neil Kennedy O'Donnell''' (born July 3, 1966) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[quarterback]] who played in the [[National Football League]] (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played [[college football]] for the [[Maryland Terrapins football|Maryland Terrapins]] and was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the third round of the [[1990 NFL draft]]. During his six seasons with the Steelers, O'Donnell received [[Pro Bowl]] honors and helped lead them to a [[Super Bowl]] appearance in [[Super Bowl XXX]]. After leaving Pittsburgh, he was a member of the [[New York Jets]] for two seasons and the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] for one. O'Donnell spent his last five seasons mostly as a backup with the [[Tennessee Titans]].

==Early life==
Neil Kennedy O'Donnell was born on July 3, 1966, in [[Morristown, New Jersey]], and grew up in [[Madison, New Jersey]], where he played [[high school football]] at [[Madison High School (New Jersey)|Madison High School]].<ref>Eskenazi, Gerald. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B03E7DF1339F934A25751C0A960958260 "PRO FOOTBALL;Jets Waste No Time Wooing O'Donnell"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', February 17, 1996. Accessed January 3, 2008. "He is a local product, having grown up and played football at Madison High School in New Jersey, not far from where the Giants have run their summer camp."</ref> His four older brothers played for local coaching legend Ted Monica and won state championships. Stephen O’Donnell was an All-State quarterback who went on to play for Duke. Coach Monica had retired by the time Neil enrolled at Madison High School, but mentored him throughout much of his young football life. O'Donnell was the star of the Dodgers varsity team as a sophomore and junior, but the team won just three games in those two seasons. During his senior year as quarterback, O'Donnell led the team to a respectable 4–2–3 season in 1985. Coach Bobby Ross recruited him to the University of Maryland despite lacking the stats and honors of other high school stars.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.njsportsheroes.com/neilo%27donnellfb.html |title = Neil O'Donnell FB|website=Njsportsheroes.com}}</ref>

==College career==
At the [[University of Maryland, College Park]], O'Donnell redshirted the 1986 season, then played for the [[Maryland Terrapins football|Terrapins]] for three seasons and was the starting quarterback in the 1988 and 1989 seasons. He played under head coach [[Joe Krivak]], who was promoted from quarterback coach after [[Bobby Ross]] left the program in 1986. The Krivak era was marked by mediocre results and the O'Donnell years featured an especially tough out-of-conference schedule. The Terps finished 5–6 in 1988 and 3–7–1 in 1989, notably tying [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State]], only the second time Maryland had avoided losing to the [[Nittany Lion]]s in the series [[Maryland–Penn State football rivalry|up to that point]]. The Terps failed to reach a bowl game during O'Donnell's career there. He was backed up by QB Scott Zolak, who pushed O'Donnell for playing time during both of his seasons as a starter. O'Donnell wore #14 for the Terps and for most of his Pro Career. He was awarded the Ray Krouse Award for Maryland team MVP in 1989, and finished his Maryland career with 26 touchdown passes, 3 rushing touchdowns, and 5,069 total yards.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=208126658#TDCareer |title=Total Offense Records – Maryland Terrapins Athletics – University of Maryland Terps Official Athletic Site |access-date=December 3, 2014 |archive-date=March 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317140426/http://www.umterps.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=29700&ATCLID=208126658#TDCareer |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Professional career==
{{NFL predraft
|    height ft = 6
|    height in = 2 1/4
|       weight = 217
|         dash = 4.89
|    ten split = 1.63
| twenty split = 2.89
|      shuttle = 4.03
|   cone drill =
|     vertical = 32.5
|     broad ft =
|     broad in =
|        bench =
|     arm span = 31 1/4
|    hand span = 9 1/8
|    wonderlic =
|         note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nflcombineresults.com/playerpage.php?i=25490 |title=Neil O'Donnell, Combine Results, QB – Maryland |website=Nflcombineresults.com |access-date=January 7, 2022}}</ref>
}}

===Pittsburgh Steelers===

====1990–1991====
O'Donnell was selected by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] with the 70th overall pick in the [[1990 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/draft.htm |access-date=May 24, 2023 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

As a rookie, he sat behind incumbent starter [[Bubby Brister]] and did not see the field once.<ref name="j900">{{cite web | title=1990 Pittsburgh Steelers Roster | website=FootballDB.com | url=https://www.footballdb.com/teams/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/roster/1990 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> In 1991, he was once again named the team’s backup quarterback. He would relieve Brister for one drive during Week 1’s 26–20 victory over the [[1991 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]. O’Donnell completed one pass on four attempts. His first ever NFL completion was an 89 yard touchdown pass to [[Dwight Stone (American football)|Dwight Stone]].<ref name="g796">{{cite web | title=San Diego Chargers at Pittsburgh Steelers | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=September 1, 1991 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199109010pit.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> On October 14, he relieved an injured Brister once again. In his first NFL start, O’Donnell completed 11 passes on 21 attempts for 152 yards and two touchdowns as the Steelers lost to the [[1991 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] 23–20.<ref name="z442">{{cite web | title=Giants 23–20 Steelers (Oct 14, 1991) | website=StatMuse | date=October 14, 1991 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/10-14-1991-nyg-at-pit-9101 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> He continued to start sporadically in place of Brister due to poor play. O’Donnell finished 1991 with a completion percentage of 54.5 (156-of-286) for 1,963 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.<ref name="r561">{{cite web | title=Neil O'Donnell 1991 Game Log | website=StatMuse | date=December 22, 1991 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/neil-o'donnell-15420/game-log?seasonYear=1991 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> He started in eight regular season games and helped lead the Steelers to a 7–9 record, missing the playoffs.<ref name="v735">{{cite web | title=1991 Pittsburgh Steelers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=September 1, 1991 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pit/1991.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

====1992====
As the Steelers began the 1992 season, Steelers head coach [[Chuck Noll]] retired with [[Bill Cowher]] stepping into the role. Cowher preferred O’Donnell to Brister, promoting him to the starting quarterback position.<ref name="g601">{{cite web | last=Rosa | first=Poch de la | title=The Life And Career Of Neil O'Donnell (Story) | website=Pro Football History | date=January 23, 2023 | url=https://www.profootballhistory.com/neil-odonnell/ | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

In a 23–6 victory over the [[San Diego Chargers]], O’Donnell would have one of his statistically best games of his career. O’Donnell scored three touchdowns, two passing and one rushing, completed 17 of 24 passes for 215 yards and only committed one turnover.<ref name="l173">{{cite web | title=Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=September 20, 1992 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199209200sdg.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> He finished the season throwing for 2,283 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions as he led the Steelers to an 11–5 record and took the [[AFC Central]] division title, but lost to the Buffalo Bills 24–3 in a divisional playoff game. At the conclusion of the season, O’Donnell was named to the Pro Bowl, the only one of his career.<ref name="g601"/>

====1993–1994====
In 1993, he finished the season with a passer rating of 79.4, throwing for a career-high 3,208 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions finishing with a 1.4 interception percentage, the second lowest in his career.<ref name="c554">{{cite web | title=Neil O'donnell 1993 | website=StatMuse | date=January 2, 1994 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask?q=neil+o'donnell+1993 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> In a Week 3 blowout victory over the [[Bengals–Steelers rivalry|division rival]] [[1993 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]], O'Donnell completed 21-of-25 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Steelers to a final score of 34–7.<ref name="e214">{{cite web | title=Bengals 7–34 Steelers (Sep 19, 1993) | website=StatMuse | date=September 19, 1993 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/9-19-1993-cin-at-pit-9514 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> O'Donnell followed up this season by throwing for 2,443 yards, 13 touchdowns, and nine interceptions as he led his team to a playoff berth yet again. He and the Steelers defeated the Cleveland Browns with a final score of 29–9 in which he threw 16-of-23 pass attempts for 186 yards and two touchdowns. The Steelers would lose the AFC Championship to the [[San Diego Chargers]] 17–13. He only completed 59.3% of his passes (32-of-54) for 349 yards (a career high), and one touchdown.<ref name="s501">{{cite web | title=Neil O'Donnell 1994 Game Log | website=StatMuse | date=January 15, 1995 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/player/neil-o'donnell-15420/game-log?seasonYear=1994 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

====1995: Super Bowl XXX====
On September 3, 1995, O'Donnell led the Steelers to a Week 1 win over the [[Detroit Lions]], throwing seven completions on 10 attempts for 63 yards, but failed to score a touchdown.<ref name="s137">{{cite web | title=Lions 20–23 Steelers (Sep 3, 1995) | website=StatMuse | date=September 3, 1995 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/9-3-1995-det-at-pit-9961 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> During the game, O'Donnell was injured and replaced by backup [[Mike Tomczak]]. O'Donnell would not make a regular season appearance until the 20–16 loss to the expansion team [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] on October 8. He threw his first touchdown of the season during the game on an 18 yard pass to running back [[Steve Avery (American football)|Steve Avery]].<ref name="q778">{{cite web | title=Steelers 16–20 Jaguars (Oct 8, 1995) | website=StatMuse | date=October 8, 1995 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/10-8-1995-pit-at-jax-10025 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> He had his statistically best game of the season on November 19, 1995 as the Steelers defeated the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] 49–31. O'Donnell threw for 377 yards, completed 24-of-31 passes, and threw three touchdowns in what would be his fourth game of the season throwing for multiple touchdowns.<ref name="d572">{{cite web | title=Steelers 49–31 Bengals (Nov 19, 1995) | website=StatMuse | date=November 19, 1995 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/11-19-1995-pit-at-cin-10104 | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> The Steelers finished the regular season with a record of 11–5 and clinched the [[AFC Central]] yet again earning a first-round bye for the team for the fifth consecutive season.

In the divisional playoff round, O'Donnell led the Steelers to a victory over the four time AFC Champions [[Buffalo Bills]] by a final score of 40–21. In the game, O'Donnell threw a touchdown pass to have the Steelers take a 14–0 lead to begin the second quarter.<ref name="o382">{{cite web | title=Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=January 6, 1996 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601060pit.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref> On January 14, O'Donnell won his first AFC Championship 20–16 over the [[Indianapolis Colts]]. O'Donnell threw a five yard touchdown pass to [[Kordell Stewart]] in his only score of the game.<ref name="e698">{{cite web | title=Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=January 14, 1996 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601140pit.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

The Steelers would make their fifth franchise Super Bowl appearance in [[Super Bowl XXX]] on January 28, 1996 against the [[Dallas Cowboys]]. During the game, he threw one touchdown on a six yard pass to [[Yancey Thigpen]] and completed 28-of-49 passes. Infamously, O'Donnell threw two nearly identical [[interception]]s to [[Dallas Cowboys]] [[cornerback]] [[Larry Brown (cornerback)|Larry Brown]] (with one apparently due to a missed route by [[Andre Hastings]]) that set up short [[touchdown]] drives in the second half. He tacked on a third interception as well late in the game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barrickman |first=Bob |date=January 17, 2011 |title=Another Look: Super Bowl XXX |url=https://www.timesonline.com/story/sports/2011/01/18/another-look-super-bowl-xxx/18385991007/ |website=www.timesonline.com |access-date=March 20, 2025}}</ref> These interceptions proved costly for the Steelers as it led to them losing 27–17.<ref name="v138">{{cite web | title=Dallas Cowboys vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=January 28, 1996 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199601280dal.htm | access-date=November 25, 2024}}</ref>

O'Donnell was not re-signed to the team following his Super Bowl performance, making him a free agent at the end of the season.

===New York Jets===
====1996====
On February 29, 1996, he signed a 5-year, $25 million contract with the [[New York Jets]] that was both more money than Pittsburgh but also close to his home in [[Madison, New Jersey]].

O’Donnell was named the Jets’ starting quarterback going into the [[1996 New York Jets season|1996 season]].<ref name="u792">{{cite web | title=1996 New York Jets Roster & Players | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=July 28, 1996 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/1996_roster.htm | access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref> His first outing with the team was a far cry from his tenure with the Steelers, throwing just seven completions of 13 attempts for 50 yards and an interception. His passer rating of 30.9 was a career low for O’Donnell as the Jets lost to the [[1996 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] 31–6.<ref name="d463">{{cite web | title=Jets 6–31 Broncos (Sep 1, 1996) | website=StatMuse | date=September 1, 1996 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/9-1-1996-nyj-at-den-10204 | access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref>

Through his first six starts of the season, O’Donnell led the Jets to an 0–6 record and only completed 110-of-188 passes for 1,147 yards, four touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He was also sacked 18 times for 127 yards. He suffered a season ending shoulder injury during a 34–13 loss to the [[1996 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]].<ref name="m639">{{cite web | title=Neil O'Donnell 1996 Game Log | website=[[Pro Football Reference]] | date=July 3, 1996 | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/ODonNe00/gamelog/1996/ | access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref>

====1997====
His performance improved the following season under new head coach [[Bill Parcells]]. He led the Jets to a Week 1 victory over the [[1997 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] in which he completed 18-of-25 passes for 270 yards and five touchdowns. In contrast with the previous season’s opener, his passer rating of 146.7 was a career high for O’Donnell.<ref name="s107">{{cite web | title=Jets 41–3 Seahawks (Aug 31, 1997) | website=StatMuse | date=August 31, 1997 | url=https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/game/8-31-1997-nyj-at-sea-10465 | access-date=November 26, 2024}}</ref>

He eventually fell out of favor with Parcells and lost his starting job to [[Glenn Foley]]. O'Donnell refused to re-negotiate his contract, which paid him $6.65 million for the upcoming season, Parcells chose to waive O'Donnell. He stated later that he had no regrets, stating, "It was exciting, but the change was hard, I'll be honest with you. I mean the locker room change, the environment change. We were at Hofstra [University on Long Island], which was horrible. I never thought it would affect me, but every game was an away game. That's how it felt. It was a constant battle even to get to a so-called home game at [[Giants Stadium]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ny-jets-waive-neil-odonnell/|title = N.Y. Jets Waive Neil O'Donnell |website = [[CBS News]] | date=June 24, 1998 }}</ref><ref name="r998">{{cite web | last=Cimini | first=Rich | title=What's it like to be Kirk Cousins? Ex-Jet Neil O'Donnell has an idea | website=ESPN.com | date=March 8, 2018 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/74960/neil-odonnells-free-agent-advice-to-kirk-cousins-just-win-baby | access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>

===Cincinnati Bengals===
On July 7, 1998, O'Donnell signed a 4-year, $17 million contract with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. In the 1998 NFL season, with the then 1–3 Bengals, O'Donnell threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to [[Carl Pickens]] with 20 seconds remaining to score the winning touchdown against 3–1 Pittsburgh. O'Donnell's 90.2 [[passer rating]] was sixth among regular starting quarterbacks in the NFL and third in the AFC. However, due to a struggling defense, the Bengals went on to finish 3–13. O'Donnell was released at the end of the season to make room for rookie quarterback [[Akili Smith]].

===Tennessee Titans===
[[File:NeilTitans2003.jpg|thumb|O’Donnell in 2003]]
[[File:Neilodonnel2011-2.jpg|thumb|O’Donnell with a fan in 2011]]
On July 24, 1999, O'Donnell signed a multi-year contract with the [[Tennessee Titans]], where he served as [[Steve McNair]]'s backup. He performed well, winning four of his five starts for an injured McNair in 1999, leaving a perennial .500 team at 5–1 upon McNair's return. Later, O'Donnell came off the bench and led Tennessee to a 47–36 victory over Pittsburgh in Week 17 en route to the AFC Championship and [[Super Bowl XXXIV]], in which he was not an active participant.

O'Donnell retired after the 2002 season, but was talked into coming back for one game in December 2003 when McNair and [[Billy Volek]] were injured. He started in the regular season finale and delivered a strong performance, completing 18 of 27 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Titans to a 33–13 victory over the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]].

O'Donnell ended his career with the lowest interception percentage in NFL history, averaging just 2.11 interceptions for every 100 pass attempts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/nfl.donovan.mcnabb.at.home/content.8.html |title=Donovan McNabb at Home - Photos - SI.com |access-date=June 1, 2008 |archive-date=May 29, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529021322/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/nfl.donovan.mcnabb.at.home/content.8.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Aaron Rodgers]] has since eclipsed the record (1.46 interception percentage through the 2018–19 season).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_int_perc_career.htm|title = NFL Pass Interception % Career Leaders|website = [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref> O'Donnell also wore number 14 during most of his career except during his one-year stint with the Bengals, where he wore number 12. The Bengals did not issue number 14 after the retirement of former quarterback and [[West Coast offense]] pioneer [[Ken Anderson (quarterback)|Ken Anderson]] in 1986 until [[Andy Dalton]] started wearing number 14 for the Bengals in 2011.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ff0; width:3em;"|
| [[Pro Bowl]] selection
|-
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

=== Regular season ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="3"| Games
! colspan="9"| Passing
|-
! GP !! GS !! Record !! Cmp !! Att !! Pct !! Yds !! Avg !! TD !! Int !! Lng !! Rtg 
|-
! [[1991 NFL season|1991]] !! [[1991 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 12 || 8 || 2–6 || 156 || 286 || 54.5 || 1,963 || 6.9 || 11 || 7 || '''89''' || 78.8
|-
! style="background:#ffff00"|[[1992 NFL season|1992]] !! [[1992 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 12 || 12 || 9–3 || 185 || 313 || 59.1 || 2,283 || 7.3 || 13 || '''9''' || 51 || 83.6
|-
! [[1993 NFL season|1993]] !! [[1993 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| '''16''' || '''15''' || 9–6 || '''270''' || '''486''' || 55.6 || '''3,208''' || 6.6 || 14 || 7 || 71 || 79.5
|-
! [[1994 NFL season|1994]] !! [[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 14 || 14 || '''10–4''' || 212 || 370 || 57.3 || 2,443 || 6.6 || 13 || '''9''' || 60 || 78.9
|-
! [[1995 NFL season|1995]] !! [[1995 Pittsburgh Steelers season|PIT]]
| 12 || 12 || 9–3 || 246 || 416 || 59.1 || 2,970 || 7.1 || '''17''' || 7 || 71 || 87.7
|-
! [[1996 NFL season|1996]] !! [[1996 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 6 || 6 || 0–6 || 110 || 188 || 58.5 || 1,147 || 6.1 || 4 || 7 || 78 || 67.8
|-
! [[1997 NFL season|1997]] !! [[1997 New York Jets season|NYJ]]
| 15 || 14 || 8–6 || 259 || 460 || 56.3 || 2,796 || 6.1 || '''17''' || 7 || 70 || 80.3
|-
! [[1998 NFL season|1998]] !! [[1998 Cincinnati Bengals season|CIN]]
| 13 || 11 || 2–9 || 212 || 343 || 61.8 || 2,216 || 6.5 || 15 || 4 || 76  || 90.2
|-
! [[1999 NFL season|1999]] !! [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 8 || 5 || 4–1 || 116 || 195 || 59.5 || 1,382 || 7.1 || 10 || 5 || 54 || 87.6
|-
! [[2000 NFL season|2000]] !! [[2000 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 7 || 1 || 1–0 || 36 || 64 || 56.3 || 530 || 8.3 || 2 || 3 || 67 || 74.3
|-
! [[2001 NFL season|2001]] !! [[2001 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 5 || 1 || 0–1 || 42 || 76 || 55.3 || 496 || 6.5 || 2 || 2 || 35 || 73.1
|-
! [[2002 NFL season|2002]] !! [[2002 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 4 || 0 || — || 3 || 5 || 60.0 || 24 || 4.8 || 0 || 0 || 15 || 72.1
|-
! [[2003 NFL season|2003]] !! [[2003 Tennessee Titans season|TEN]]
| 1 || 1 || 1–0 || 18 || 27 || '''66.7''' || 232 || '''8.6''' || 2 || 1 || 34 || '''102.7'''
|-
! colspan="2"| Career !! 125 !! 100 !! 55–45 !! 1,865 !! 3,229 !! 57.8 !! 21,690 !! 6.7 !! 120 !! 68 !! 89 !! 81.8
|}

==Post-football career==
O'Donnell permanently retired after the 2003 season. In 2004, he declined head coach [[Bill Cowher]]'s offer to return to the Steelers after starting quarterback [[Tommy Maddox]] and backup quarterback [[Charlie Batch]] both sustained injuries.

O'Donnell found work as a sports analyst, primarily covering the Titans at [[WTVF]], [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]]'s [[CBS]] affiliate (2005–2007). He is currently a sales representative for [[FieldTurf]] in [[Kentucky]] and [[Tennessee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mondesishouse.com/2007/05/fieldturf-needs-sales-rep.html|title=FieldTurf Needs a Sales Rep|website=Mondesishouse.com|access-date=February 28, 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Footballstats |nfl=neil-o-donnell |espn=127 |cbs=1048 |yahoo=1073 |si=1073 |pfr=O/ODonNe00 |rotoworld=}}
*{{commonscatinline}}

{{Steelers1990DraftPicks}}
{{Pittsburgh Steelers starting quarterback navbox}}
{{New York Jets starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Tennessee Titans starting quarterback navbox}}
{{Maryland Terrapins quarterback navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odonnell, Neil}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American Conference Pro Bowl players]]
[[Category:American football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals players]]
[[Category:Madison High School (New Jersey) alumni]]
[[Category:Maryland Terrapins football players]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Morristown, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Madison, New Jersey]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans players]]