KEANU NEAL announces retirement after 8 nfl seasons

After eight seasons in the NFL, Atlanta Falcons retire in the first round, which Keanu Neal retires.

Neal, who also played for Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers, announced his retirement with an Instagram post.

“God has blessed my family and I in so many ways,” he began his caption. “20 years ago I started this journey. Today I go back from the NFL. Gods’ timing is always the real timing.”

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Atlanta Falcons Strong Security Keanu Neal (Dale Zanine-usa Today Sports)

Neal continued to thank everyone on the journey he started 20 years ago.

“Would like to give a big thank you to Atlanta Falcons for drafting and giving me a chance to have influence. To Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Bucs and Pittsburgh Steelers .. Thanks for allowing me to continue my career with you. All organizations in top notch.

“I am incredibly grateful for the coaches and teammates I had the privilege to work with along the way. Sumter County, South Sumter High, Wolfpack, University of Florida, My Family and Friends..Tak! All the experiences learned through the game have helped by shaping me to who I am today.

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Neal did not play the 2024 season after failing a physical with Steelers, the team he played with in 2023.

Neal was one of the best prospects that went into the NFL draft in 2016 after a successful college career at the University of Florida, which led to Falcons taking him 17.

He had an immediate influence like a rookie in which he voted 106 tackles, five forced fumbles and eight passes defended over 14 games.

Neal would follow it up with his first and only Pro Bowl campaign, a total of a career high 116 combined tackles with an eavesdropping, six passports defended, three coercion fumbles and two fumble recovery.

Pittsburgh Steelers Safety Keanu Neal (Charles Leclaire-usa Today Sports)

The injury got in the way in 2018 when Neal tore his ACL in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Then in 2019, Neal tore Sine Achilles in week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts.

Falcons would exert the fifth year’s opportunity for Neal, so 2020 was a contract year that drafted in his favor. He had 100 tackles, nine for loss, with an interception.

But Neal ended up signing a description-IT contract the next season with Cowboys, a one-year deal worth $ 5 million. He did it as a reunion with his old head coach, Dan Quinn, who was Cowboys’ defensive coordinator.

Neal ended up switching to linebacker from security with cowboys and playing 14 games with 72 tackles.

In 2022, Neal signed another year’s deal, this time with BUCS on a $ 1,272 million deal to go back to strong security. He had eight starts out of his 17 games, sending 63 tackles, an eavesdropping and four passports defended.