Don McNeal
Encyclopedia
Don McNeal is a former American
professional football player who played defensive back for the Miami Dolphins
in the 1980s.
McNeal was born and raised in Atmore, Alabama
. He is a 1976 graduate of Escambia County (Alabama) High School where he was a star on the football team. He played college football at the University of Alabama
for the legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. McNeal played on Alabama's
1978 and 1979 national championship teams; he was Captain of the Team in 1979. In 1992, he was selected as a member of the University of Alabama All-Centennial Team.
The Miami Dolphins drafted McNeal as a defensive back in 1980. McNeal played in two Super Bowls with the Dolphins: Super Bowl XVII
in January 1983 and Super Bowl XIX
in January 1985. During the same two seasons that those Super Bowls were held (1982 & 1984), McNeal was named the Dolphins' Player of the Year. He retired at the end of the 1989 season having played his entire pro career with the Dolphins.
McNeal was involved in one of the more famous plays in the annals of professional football, which took place in Super Bowl XVII
. Late in the game with fourth down and inches to go, McNeal was unable to bring down Washington Redskins
running back John Riggins
, and he rumbled 43 yards into the endzone for the game winning touchdown. Riggins' Run is the Redskins' "Greatest Moment of all time" as voted on by Redskin fans. This became not only a famous play but also a famous photograph as well.
Today, McNeal is active in the community with associations that assist youth and adults. He serves as a drug-rehab counselor, teacher, coach, lay pastor, board member, and is a frequent public speaker. He is a pastor at New Testament Baptist Church in South Florida and speaker for Power Talent. His life is further described in his autobiography Home Team Advantage: From the fields of rural Alabama to the pro football field of the Miami Dolphins.
On May 31, 2008 Don McNeal was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional football player who played defensive back for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 1980s.
McNeal was born and raised in Atmore, Alabama
Atmore, Alabama
Atmore is a city in Escambia County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 7,676. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 7,530. The city was named for Mr. C.P. Atmore....
. He is a 1976 graduate of Escambia County (Alabama) High School where he was a star on the football team. He played college football at the University of Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
for the legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. McNeal played on Alabama's
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
1978 and 1979 national championship teams; he was Captain of the Team in 1979. In 1992, he was selected as a member of the University of Alabama All-Centennial Team.
The Miami Dolphins drafted McNeal as a defensive back in 1980. McNeal played in two Super Bowls with the Dolphins: Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
in January 1983 and Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 regular season...
in January 1985. During the same two seasons that those Super Bowls were held (1982 & 1984), McNeal was named the Dolphins' Player of the Year. He retired at the end of the 1989 season having played his entire pro career with the Dolphins.
McNeal was involved in one of the more famous plays in the annals of professional football, which took place in Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII
Super Bowl XVII was an American football game played on January 30, 1983 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the strike-shortened 1982 regular season...
. Late in the game with fourth down and inches to go, McNeal was unable to bring down Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
running back John Riggins
John Riggins
Robert John Riggins, nicknamed "The Diesel", is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Jets and Washington Redskins. Riggins was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992....
, and he rumbled 43 yards into the endzone for the game winning touchdown. Riggins' Run is the Redskins' "Greatest Moment of all time" as voted on by Redskin fans. This became not only a famous play but also a famous photograph as well.
Today, McNeal is active in the community with associations that assist youth and adults. He serves as a drug-rehab counselor, teacher, coach, lay pastor, board member, and is a frequent public speaker. He is a pastor at New Testament Baptist Church in South Florida and speaker for Power Talent. His life is further described in his autobiography Home Team Advantage: From the fields of rural Alabama to the pro football field of the Miami Dolphins.
On May 31, 2008 Don McNeal was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
.
See also
- 1980 NFL Draft1980 NFL DraftThe 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
- Dade Christian SchoolDade Christian SchoolDade Christian School is a private school located in Country Club, Florida and operated by New Testament Baptist Church. DCS has a 2011-2012 enrollment of 793. In 2008, it was the second largest private school in Miami-Dade. The school was named a Blue Ribbon School in 1984...