| Ryan Neal | |
| Position: | Safety |
| Birth Date: | December 24, 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 3 |
| Weight Lbs: | 200 |
| High School: | Merrillville (Merrillville, Indiana) |
| College: | Southern Illinois |
| Undraftedyear: | 2018 |
| Pastteams: | |
| Statseason: | 2023 |
| Statlabel1: | Total tackles |
| Statvalue1: | 236 |
| Statlabel2: | Sacks |
| Statvalue2: | 2.0 |
| Statlabel3: | Forced fumbles |
| Statvalue3: | 1 |
| Statlabel4: | Fumble recoveries |
| Statlabel5: | Pass deflections |
| Statvalue5: | 16 |
| Statlabel6: | Interceptions |
| Statvalue6: | 3 |
| Pfr: | N/NealRy00 |
Ryan Christopher Neal (born December 24, 1995) is an American football safety who is a free agent. 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.
Neal played four seasons at Southern Illinois, compiling 226 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, five interceptions and 19 passes defensed. 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.[1]
Neal signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[2] He was waived by the team during training camp on August 6, 2018.[3]
Neal was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 11, 2018.[4] 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.[5] Neal was promoted to the Falcons active roster on November 28, 2018.[6] 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.[7] Neal was waived by the Falcons as part of the team's final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[8]
Neal was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad on September 2, 2019.[9] The Seahawks promoted Neal to the active roster on December 11, 2019.[10]
Neal re-signed with the Seahawks on April 20, 2020.[11] He was waived on September 5, 2020,[12] and signed to the practice squad the next day.[13] He was elevated to the active roster on September 26 for the team's week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys.[14] With six seconds remaining in the game, he intercepted Dak Prescott in the end zone, sealing a 38–31 victory for the Seahawks.[15] After automatically reverting to the practice squad following the game, Neal was promoted to the active roster on September 30, 2020.[16] 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.[17] Neal made 6 tackles, and also collected his second interception, from Ryan Fitzpatrick.[18]
Neal signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Seahawks on June 8, 2021.[19]
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.
Neal signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on April 4, 2023.[20]
Neal is the younger brother of former Green Bay Packers linebacker Mike Neal.[2]