18 Facts About Stephen Neal

Stephen Matthew Neal was born on October 9,1976 and is a former American football guard who played his entire career for the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

Stephen Neal is a former world champion in freestyle wrestling and two-time NCAA national champion wrestler at Cal State-Bakersfield.

Stephen Neal was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2001, and won three Super Bowl rings with the team.

Stephen Neal is one of a handful of NFL players who did not play college football.

Stephen Neal 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, Stephen Neal lost to two time heavyweight champ Kerry McCoy.

In 1999, Stephen Neal won the Dan Hodge Award following a year in which he won the US Freestyle Championship, the Pan-American Games title and the 1999 World Wrestling Championships at 286 pounds.

Stephen Neal finished his college career as Cal State-Bakersfield's career record holder in wins and set school records for pins in a season and a career.

In 2012, Stephen Neal was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member.

Stephen Neal was waived by the Patriots on August 26,2001.

In 2002, Stephen 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, Stephen 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.

Stephen Neal started all 16 games for the Patriots in 2005, and re-signed with the team after testing the free agent market following the season.

Stephen Neal started 13 games in 2006 at right guard, missing three games with a shoulder injury.

In 2009, Stephen Neal missed time with the shoulder injury again, but played in and started 12 games.

In March 2010, Stephen Neal was re-signed to a two-year contract.

Stephen Neal then played in the first eight games of the 2010 season before being placed on injured reserve with the shoulder injury on December 2,2010.

Stephen Neal retired on March 2,2011 after filing his retirement papers with the league.