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| Position: | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1958-05-06)May 6, 1958 (age 66) Atmore, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 192 lb (87 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Escambia County (Atmore) | ||||||||
| College: | Alabama | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1980: 1st round, 21st pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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Donald McNeal (born May 6, 1958) is an American former professionalfootball player who was acornerback for theMiami Dolphins of theNational Football League (NFL) in the 1980s.
McNeal was born and raised inAtmore, Alabama. He is a 1976 graduate of Escambia County (Alabama) High School where he was a star on the football team. He playedcollege football for theAlabama Crimson Tide for the legendary coachPaul "Bear" Bryant. McNeal played on [Alabama's 1978 and 1979 national championship teams; he wasCaptain of the Team in 1979. In 1992, he was selected as a member of the University of AlabamaAll-Centennial Team.
McNeal's most famous play at Alabama was in the1979 Sugar Bowl. In the final period, with Alabama leadingPenn State 14–7, the Nittany Lions had the ball deep in Alabama territory first and goal at the 8-yard line. On second down, Penn State quarterbackChuck Fusina hit receiverScott Fitzkee on a crossing route and Fitkee appeared headed for the goal line marker for a touchdown. However, McNeal was able to run down Fitzkee and force him out of bounds at the one-yard line, being knocked unconscious in the process. Two plays later on 4th down, Alabama linebackerBarry Krauss stopped Penn State running backMike Guman short of the goal line in a now-famous goal-line stand.
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 andSuper Bowl XIX in January 1985. 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 inSuper Bowl XVII. Late in the game with fourth down and inches to go, McNeal was unable to bring downWashington Redskins running backJohn Riggins, who rumbled 43 yards into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown.[1] On the play, McNeal was assigned to shadow Redskins tight endClint Didier, who went in motion before the snap. Suddenly, Didier reversed his motion, and McNeal slipped as he changed direction before regaining his footing. This slippage caused McNeal to start late in his pursuit of Riggins on the play after the snap, and while he got his hands on Riggins, he was unable get a firm grip as Riggins shed the tackle easily before scoring. 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 atNew Testament Baptist Church inSouth Florida and speaker for Power Talent. His life is further described in his autobiographyHome Team Advantage: From the fields of rural Alabama to the pro football field of the Miami Dolphins.[1][2]
On May 31, 2008, Don McNeal was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame inBirmingham, Alabama.
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