Thomas Daniel Neal (born August 30, 1949) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

player who was an

offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line ( ...

for 11 seasons with the

Baltimore Colts The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from 1953 to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It w ...

and

Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...

of the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

(NFL) from 1973 to 1983. He was named offensive line coach in 2007 for the Texas vs. The Nation game, winning a 24–20 victory in Sun Bowl Stadium. Neal spent 11 years as a player, 15 years as a coach, totaling 26 total years in the NFL. He served as team captain his Junior and Senior years at the

University of Kentucky The University of Kentucky (UK, UKY, or U of K) is a Public University, public Land-grant University, land-grant research university in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. Founded in 1865 by John Bryan Bowman as the Agricultural and Mechanical ...

. He was selected in the 11th round by the Colts in 1973, remaining for 2 seasons. He played for the Chicago Bears from 1975 to 1983 blocking for

Walter Payton Walter Jerry Payton (July 25, 1953Although most sources at the time of his death gave Payton's birth year as 1954, reliable sources subsequently state he was born in 1953. – November 1, 1999) was an American professional American football, ...

, and as a kick snapper. After breaking his back he began his coaching career with the

Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...

where he coached special teams in 1986-'87 and offensive line '88-91. He then followed Buddy Ryan to the

Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...

and was the offensive line coach for 1994–95. He coached under

Mike Ditka Michael Keller Ditka ( ; born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional American football, football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year, UPI NFL R ...

as the tight end coach for the

New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...

1997–99. (He was the only person to play and coach for Ditka). He moved to the

Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. They play the ...

as their offensive assistant in 2000. He ended his coaching career as tight end coach for the

Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East div ...

2001-'03. Neal was born August 30, 1949, in Corbin, Ky. He and his wife Barbara have 2 daughters Kelly and Tiffany. Dan has been inducted into Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Atherton High School Hall of Fame. After retiring from football Dan owned and operated Coach's Fitness Club that had locations in Louisville and Prospect Kentucky.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neal, Dan 1949 births Living people People from Corbin, Kentucky Players of American football from Kentucky American football centers American football offensive guards Kentucky Wildcats football players Baltimore Colts players Chicago Bears players 20th-century American sportsmen