“Keanu Neal, a former Pro Bowl safety and Florida Gators standout, announced his retirement on Sunday after an eight-season NFL career. The 29-year-old was selected 17th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2016 NFL Draft following a stellar college career at Florida. Neal made an immediate impact in Atlanta, earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 with a career-best 116 tackles.”
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“Recording over 100 tackles in each of his first two seasons was a standout achievement in Neal’s brief NFL career. However, injuries derailed his momentum, as he suffered a torn ACL in 2018 and a torn Achilles in 2019. One of his career highlights came in Super Bowl LI, where he posted a game-high 13 tackles in the Falcons’ infamous loss after leading 28-3.
Atlanta picked up Neal’s fifth-year option, leading to a reunion with former coach Dan Quinn on the Dallas Cowboys. There, he transitioned from safety to linebacker, appearing in 14 games and recording 77 tackles in a challenging prove-it season. He then signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, returning to strong safety but starting only eight of 17 games as his production waned. In 2023, Neal joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, but injuries limited him to just eight starts before he was sidelined.
Over his career, Neal amassed 523 combined tackles, eight forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, and four interceptions across 89 games (69 starts). Despite persistent injuries, he demonstrated resilience, adapting to different teams, coaches, and positions. His early retirement highlights the physical and mental toll that football takes on athletes.”
