View source for Stephen Neal

{{Short description|American football player (born 1976)}}
{{About|the New England Patriots offensive lineman|other people named Stephen Neal|Steve Neal (disambiguation){{!}}Steve Neal}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name          = Stephen Neal
| image         = Stephen-Neal 8-28-09 Patriots-vs-Redskins.jpg
| caption       = Neal with the New England Patriots in 2009
| number        = 61
| position      = [[Guard (American football)|Guard]]
| birth_date    = {{Birth date and age|1976|10|09}}
| birth_place   = [[San Diego, California]], U.S.
| height_ft     = 6
| height_in     = 4
| weight_lbs    = 305
| high_school   = [[San Diego High School|San Diego (CA)]]
| college       = [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners|Cal State Bakersfield]]
| undraftedyear = 2001
| pastteams     = * [[New England Patriots]] ({{NFL Year|2001}})*
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|2001}})*
* New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2001}}–{{NFL Year|2010}})
| highlights    = * 3× [[Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl XXXVI|XXXVI]], [[Super Bowl XXXVIII|XXXVIII]], [[Super Bowl XXXIX|XXXIX]])
* [[Freestyle wrestling|Freestyle Wrestling]] [[World Wrestling Championships|World]] champion ([[1999 World Wrestling Championships – Men's freestyle 130 kg|1999]])
* 2× [[NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships|NCAA Division I Wrestling]] champion (1998, 1999)
| statlabel1    = Games played
| statvalue1    = 86
| statlabel2    = Games started
| statvalue2    = 81
| pfr           = N/NealSt20
}}
{{MedalTableTop|name=|image=|imagesize=|alt=|caption=}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[freestyle wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry |the {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Wrestling Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 World Wrestling Championships|1999 Ankara]] | [[1999 World Wrestling Championships – Men's freestyle 130 kg|130 kg]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Pan American Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1999 Pan American Games|1999 Winnipeg]] | [[Wrestling at the 1999 Pan American Games|130 kg]]}}
{{MedalSport|[[Collegiate wrestling|Collegiate Wrestling]]}}
{{MedalCountry|the [[Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships|NCAA Division I Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|1998 Cleveland|275 lb}}
{{MedalGold|1999 State College|285 lb}}
{{MedalSilver|1997 Cedar Falls|275 lb}}
{{MedalBottom}}

'''Stephen Matthew Neal''' (born October 9, 1976) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] [[Guard (American football)|guard]] who played his entire career for the [[New England Patriots]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). He is a former [[1999 World Wrestling Championships – Men's freestyle 130 kg|world champion]] in [[freestyle wrestling]] and two-time [[NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships|NCAA]] national champion [[Wrestling|wrestler]] at [[California State University, Bakersfield#Athletics|Cal State-Bakersfield]]. He was signed by the Patriots as an [[undrafted free agent]] in 2001, and won three [[Super Bowl ring]]s with the team. He is one of a handful of NFL players who did not play [[college football]].

==Early life==
Neal attended [[San Diego High School]] in [[San Diego]], [[California]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The remarkable, improbable career of Stephen Neal by California State University, Bakersfield |url=https://news.csub.edu/the-remarkable-improbable-career-of-stephen-neal |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=Exposure |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Union-Tribune |first=Tom Krasovic {{!}} The San Diego |date=2013-02-23 |title=San Diego’s Stephen Neal went from the wrestling mat to Super Bowl success |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2013/02/23/san-diegos-stephen-neal-went-from-the-wrestling-mat-to-super-bowl-success/ |access-date=2025-01-11 |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref> and was a [[letterman (sports)|letterman]] in football, [[wrestling]], [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], [[tennis]], and [[track and field]]. In wrestling, as a senior, he posted a 45–2 record and placed fourth at the California State Wrestling Tournament in the 189-pound weight class. In 1995, he wrestled and defeated future NFL [[running back]] [[Ricky Williams]].

==Wrestling career==
Neal attended [[California State University, Bakersfield]] and became one of the top [[collegiate wrestling|wrestlers]] in the nation, compiling a 156–10 record with four [[All-America]]n seasons. He placed fourth in [[NCAA]] Division I as a freshman and second as a sophomore before winning titles his junior and senior year. In 1997, in his sophomore season, Neal lost to two time heavyweight champ [[Kerry McCoy (wrestler)|Kerry McCoy]]. The 1998 campaign saw Neal win his first NCAA heavyweight title 20–5 over Trent Hynek of Iowa State. His final title in 1999 came via a win over future NCAA wrestling champion, [[WWE]] champion, and [[Ultimate Fighting Championship|UFC]] heavyweight champion [[Brock Lesnar]] (in March 2011, Lesnar told ''[[Opie & Anthony]]'' that his loss to Neal still sticks with him). In 1999, Neal won the [[Danny Hodge|Dan Hodge]] Award following a year in which he won the U.S. [[Freestyle wrestling|Freestyle]] Championship, the [[Pan-American Games]] title and the [[1999 World Wrestling Championships]] at [[Weight class|286 pounds]].<ref name=SchultzWC>{{Cite web  | last = Abbott  | first = Gary  | title = RIP Dave Schultz Wrestling Club  | url=http://www.wrestlingpod.com/wrestling-news/w1013/  | date = April 3, 2005 | access-date = December 8, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title =National Wrestling Hall of Fame - Stephen Neal| url =http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org/wrestlers.php?wrestler=2166| access-date =December 8, 2010| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110525104041/http://www.wrestlinghalloffame.org/wrestlers.php?wrestler=2166| archive-date =May 25, 2011}}</ref> In 1999, he won the [[International Federation of Associated Wrestling Styles|FILA]] outstanding wrestler award, an honor given to the best wrestler in the world. Also for that year's performance, he received the [[Schalles Award|Wade Schalles Award]] for best collegiate pinner.<ref>{{cite web |title=Schalles Award Winners |url=https://www.win-magazine.com/win-awards/schalles-award/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=WIN magazine}}</ref> His 1999 season led up to the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] trials where [[Kerry McCoy (wrestler)|Kerry McCoy]] edged him for the trip to [[Sydney, Australia]]. After the trials, Neal retired from wrestling.

Neal set [[Pac-10 Conference]] records by finishing 34–0 in conference competition, while becoming the conference's first four-time winner in the same weight class, and second four-time winner ever. He finished his college career as Cal State-Bakersfield's career record holder in wins (156) and also set school records for pins in a season (31) and a career (71).

While at Cal State-Bakersfield, Neal was a four-time [[Academic All-America]]n and a four-time Pac-10 Academic All-Conference selection.

In 2012, Neal was inducted into the [[National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum|National Wrestling Hall of Fame]] as a Distinguished Member.<ref>[https://nwhof.org/hall_of_fame/bio/2521 Stephen Neal]. ''National Wrestling Hall of Fame''. Retrieved September 18, 2022.</ref>

==Football career==

===New England Patriots (first stint)===
Despite not playing football in college,<ref>{{cite news |last=Mihoces |first=Gary |title=NFL seeks best players on the court or mat |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-20-no-college-experience_x.htm |access-date=October 28, 2013 |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |date=April 20, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029210147/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/football/2005draft/2005-04-20-no-college-experience_x.htm |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Neal was signed by the [[New England Patriots]] on July 23, 2001, as an [[undrafted free agent]]. He was waived by the Patriots on August 26, 2001.

===Philadelphia Eagles===
The [[Philadelphia Eagles]] signed Neal to their [[practice squad]] on September 4, 2001.

===New England Patriots (second stint)===
The Patriots re-signed Neal off the Eagles' practice squad on December 12, 2001, and he was inactive for the final three games of his [[2001 New England Patriots season|2001]] rookie season, as well as the [[2001–02 NFL playoffs|playoffs]] and [[Super Bowl XXXVI]].

In [[2002 New England Patriots season|2002]], Neal made the Patriots' 53-man roster out of [[training camp]] and spent the first four games of the season inactive before making his NFL debut as a reserve in Week 5. The next week against the [[Green Bay Packers]], Neal made his first career start at guard, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in the game and was placed on [[injured reserve]] on October 23, 2002. The shoulder injury caused Neal to miss the entire [[2003 New England Patriots season|2003]] season as well, after being placed on the [[Physically Unable to Perform]] (PUP) list to start the season.

After playing in two games as a reserve to start the [[2004 New England Patriots season|2004]] season, Neal went on to start the final 14 games of the season, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl, earning his third [[Super Bowl ring]] with the team by winning [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]. Neal started all 16 games for the Patriots in [[2005 New England Patriots season|2005]], and re-signed with the team after testing the [[free agent]] market following the season.

Neal started 13 games in [[2006 New England Patriots season|2006]] at right guard, missing three games with a shoulder injury. He would return in [[2007 New England Patriots season|2007]] to play and start in only eight games due to injury, but started all three [[2007–08 NFL playoffs|playoff]] games, including [[Super Bowl XLII]].

After beginning the [[2008 New England Patriots season|2008]] season on the PUP list with a shoulder injury, Neal returned to play in the final 11 games of the season, starting the final nine games. In [[2009 New England Patriots season|2009]], Neal missed time with the shoulder injury again, but played in and started 12 games.

In March 2010, Neal was re-signed to a two-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4675783/patriots-day-1-free-agent-recap|title=Patriots Day 1 free agent recap|work=ESPNBoston.com|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2010-03-05|access-date=2010-03-06}}</ref> Neal then played in the first eight games of the [[2010 New England Patriots season|2010]] season before being placed on injured reserve with the shoulder injury on December 2, 2010.

Neal retired on March 2, 2011.<ref>{{cite news |author=Reiss, Mike |title=Pats' Stephen Neal retiring |url=https://www.espn.com/boston/nfl/news/story?id=6175688 |work=[[ESPN.com]] |date=March 2, 2011 |access-date=2011-03-02}}</ref>

==Personal life==
His cousin, [[Pete Thomas (American football)|Pete Thomas]], also played football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ulmwarhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19000&ATCLID=209521474 |title=PETE THOMAS |publisher=ulmwarhawks.com |access-date=April 15, 2016 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415235015/http://www.ulmwarhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=19000&ATCLID=209521474 |archive-date=April 15, 2016 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081218115000/http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=12370 New England Patriots bio] 
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140927131907/http://nwhof.org/stillwater/hall-of-fame/#type=hof&honoree=8796 Stephen Neal's page at The National Wrestling Hall of Fame site]

{{World Champions freestyle wrestling super heavyweight}}
{{Super Bowl XXXVI}}
{{Super Bowl XXXVIII}}
{{Super Bowl XXXIX}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Stephen}}
[[Category:1976 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football offensive guards]]
[[Category:American football offensive tackles]]
[[Category:American male sport wrestlers]]
[[Category:Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners wrestlers]]
[[Category:New England Patriots players]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Eagles players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from San Diego]]
[[Category:World Wrestling Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Wrestlers at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1999 Pan American Games]]
[[Category:Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in wrestling]]
[[Category:San Diego High School alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]