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Evan Neal
Evan Neal
Evan Neal
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Evan Neal (born September 19, 2000) is an American professional football guard for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected seventh overall by the Giants in the 2022 NFL draft.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Neal was born on September 19, 2000, in Okeechobee, Florida. He originally attended Okeechobee High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.[1] He played in the 2019 Under Armour All-America Game.[2] A five-star recruit, Neal committed to play college football at the University of Alabama.[3][4]

College career

[edit]

Neal started all 13 games at left guard during his freshman year in 2019 before moving to right tackle in 2020.[5][6][7] He was a starting member of the team that won the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.[8] Following the 2021 season, Neal announced that he would forgo his senior year and enter the 2022 NFL draft.[9]

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
6 ft 7+1⁄2 in
(2.02 m)		 337 lb
(153 kg)		 34 in
(0.86 m)		 10+1⁄8 in
(0.26 m)
All values from NFL Combine[10][11]

Neal was selected seventh overall by the New York Giants in the 2022 NFL Draft.[12] In Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Neal suffered a grade 2 MCL sprain.[13] He returned in week 13.[14] He played in and started 13 regular season games and both of the Giants' playoff games as a rookie.[15]

When asked about the booing Giants fans following a week 4 2023 season loss to the Seattle Seahawks where Daniel Jones was sacked eleven times, Neal responded with "Why would a lion concern himself with the opinion of a sheep? ... I genuinely don't care. Why should I? I'm in the National Football League. The person that's commenting on my performance, what does he do? Flip hot dogs and hamburgers somewhere?”.[16] After receiving a large amount of backlash, he posted an apology on social media the next day.[17] On December 24, 2023, the Giants placed him on injured reserve.[18]

In the 2025 offseason, the Giants switched Neal from tackle to guard.[19] On April 25, 2025, the Giants declined the fifth-year option of Neal's rookie contract making him a free agent in 2026.[20] On November 15, he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.[21][22]

Personal life

[edit]

Neal's father, Eddie, played linebacker at Tulane while three uncles — Frankie Neal, Cleveland Gary, and Jimmie Jones — played in the NFL.[23]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Evan Neal

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Evan Neal (born September 19, 2000) is an offensive lineman who plays for the of the (NFL). Standing at 6 feet 7 inches and weighing 340 pounds, he is known for his size and versatility along the offensive line, having experience at both tackle and guard positions. Neal played college football for the from 2019 to 2021, where he started 40 games, earning consensus All-American honors in 2021 and contributing to a in 2020. Selected by the Giants with the seventh overall pick in the first round of the , he signed a four-year, $24.55 million fully guaranteed contract, including a $15.04 million . In April 2025, the Giants declined his fifth-year option for 2026. Neal was born and raised in , where he initially attended Okeechobee High School before transferring to in , for his senior year. At , he was rated as a five-star recruit and the top offensive tackle in the class of 2019 by major scouting services, committing to over offers from several other top programs. During his season at in 2019, Neal started all 13 games at left guard, earning Freshman All-America honors from the and SEC All-Freshman Team recognition from the league coaches. He transitioned to right tackle in 2020, starting 12 games and helping anchor the line for a team, then moved to left tackle in 2021, where he was named a first-team All-SEC selection and one of Alabama's permanent team captains. In his NFL career, Neal debuted as the Giants' starting left tackle in 2022, appearing in all 13 games with 13 starts before missing the final four due to an ankle injury. He started the first seven games of 2023 at left tackle but suffered a season-ending in Week 7. Transitioning to right tackle in , he played in nine games with seven starts amid ongoing injury concerns. Entering the 2025 season, Neal shifted to right guard and was a healthy scratch for the first ten games before being placed on injured reserve on November 15, 2025, with a injury, amid reports of trade discussions around the trade deadline on November 4, 2025. He has not appeared in any games during the 2025 season. Through his first three full seasons (2022–2024), Neal has appeared in 29 regular-season games with 27 starts, drawing attention for his potential despite challenges with penalties and injuries.

Early life

Upbringing and family

Evan Neal was born on September 19, 2000, in , a small rural situated near , where he spent his early childhood in a close-knit community that emphasized family and outdoor activities. Growing up in this environment, Neal was immersed in a household that valued athleticism from a young age, with his parents fostering a supportive atmosphere for physical development and sports participation. Neal's family has a strong athletic heritage, particularly in football. His father, Eddie Neal, played as a linebacker at Tulane University, instilling discipline and a competitive mindset in his children through hands-on training and encouragement. His mother, Sheila Neal, played a key role in managing the family's daily logistics, including handling exceptionally high grocery bills due to the large appetites and sizes of her five children—three sons and two daughters, both of whom stand at 6 feet 2 inches tall. The siblings, including Neal's brothers who are each over 6 feet 4 inches, were all active in sports, with the family making frequent trips to the store to accommodate their nutritional needs. The Neal family's extended relatives further inspired Neal's interest in football. His uncle Cleveland Gary was a former NFL who played for the from 1989 to 1993 and the in 1994, after a standout college career at the and the . Another uncle, Frankie Neal, was a wide receiver who played at the and was selected in the seventh round of the by the . His uncle Jimmy Gary Jr. played at and briefly in the NFL with the . Another uncle by marriage, Jimmie Jones, was a who played collegiately at the and was selected in the third round of the by the , where he appeared in 114 games over nine seasons and won two Super Bowls. These familial connections provided Neal with role models and early exposure to professional football, motivating his own pursuit of the sport. From childhood, Neal participated in both football and , activities that helped channel his natural athleticism as he grew rapidly. By adulthood, he reached a height of 6 feet 7 inches and a playing weight of around 340 pounds, though he faced initial challenges with , peaking at 390 pounds during his time at before refining his physique for . This early development laid the groundwork for his transition to organized at Okeechobee High School.

High school career

Evan Neal began his high school football career at Okeechobee High School in , where he played as a . Following his freshman season, Neal transferred to in , ahead of his sophomore year in 2016. At IMG, a nationally renowned program for elite prospects, he spent the next three seasons developing his skills as an offensive tackle. During his time at , Neal emerged as one of the top offensive line recruits in the country. As a senior in 2018, he was selected to participate in the 2019 , showcasing his size and athleticism against the nation's best high school talent. Major recruiting services rated him as a five-star prospect, with ranking him as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 7 overall player nationally, while listed him as the No. 2 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in . His performance earned him All-American honors and positioned him as a cornerstone of IMG's dominant offensive line. Neal's recruitment drew interest from numerous top programs, including Georgia, , , Florida State, and LSU, among 22 total offers. He initially committed to as a in 2016 before briefly decommitting, but recommitted to the Crimson Tide on December 19, 2018, citing the program's fit with his skills and proximity to his Southeast roots, influenced by his family's athletic background in . This decision capped his high school career as he prepared to enroll early at in 2019.

College career

2019 season

As a true freshman at the under head coach , Evan Neal earned a starting role on the offensive line, playing left guard in all 13 games during the 2019 season. Ranked as a five-star high school prospect, Neal quickly adapted to college-level competition after committing to . Neal contributed to an Alabama offensive line that allowed just 12 sacks across the season, providing solid protection for quarterback and the rushing attack. The Crimson Tide finished with an 11-2 overall record, including a victory over Georgia in the Championship Game, though they fell to in the . His consistent performance helped anchor the interior line during a campaign marked by strong offensive output. To optimize his athleticism, Neal focused on physical conditioning upon arriving in Tuscaloosa, reducing his weight from 390 pounds to approximately 360 pounds through dietary changes and training regimens tailored by Alabama's staff. This adjustment allowed him to maintain size while improving mobility at guard. For his efforts, Neal was selected to the All-Freshman Team, recognizing his immediate impact as one of the top incoming linemen in the conference.

2020 and 2021 seasons

Entering his sophomore year in 2020, Neal transitioned from left guard to right tackle for , a move that capitalized on his initial experience at guard to enhance his versatility along the offensive line. He started 12 of the Crimson Tide's 13 games that season, missing one due to a positive test, during a pandemic-affected campaign that saw finish 13-1. The team won the against 52-46 before advancing to the , where they defeated Notre Dame 31-14 in the semifinal but fell 52-24 to Ohio State in the game. As a junior in 2021, Neal shifted to left tackle and started all 15 games, serving as one of the team's permanent captains and anchoring an offensive line that supported a 13-2 record. Alabama captured the SEC Championship with a 41-24 victory over Georgia, then won the semifinal against 27-6 en route to the game, but fell 33-18 to Georgia. For his performance, Neal earned first-team All-SEC honors from the league coaches and consensus All-American recognition, including first-team selections from the AFCA, FWAA, , , , and , along with second-team honors from the . Over his three college seasons, Neal amassed 40 starts while allowing just five sacks, earning praise for his exceptional run-blocking ability and rare athleticism at 6-foot-7 and over 330 pounds, which enabled him to excel in pass protection and create lanes for 's rushing attack. Following the 2021 season, Neal declared for the on January 13, 2022, forgoing his senior year at .

Professional career

2022 NFL draft

Neal entered the as one of the top offensive tackle prospects, widely projected as a top-10 selection due to his rare combination of size, power, and movement skills. At the , the 6-foot-7½-inch, 337-pound lineman participated in positional drills but opted out of timed workouts like the and , emphasizing his game tape from instead. Scouting reports highlighted his versatility, having started at left guard, right tackle, and left tackle during his college career, along with his explosive pass protection and ability to overwhelm defenders in the run game; analysts compared him to elite left tackles like for his balance of mass and agility. The selected Neal seventh overall in the first round, using a pick acquired from the in a 2021 draft-day trade where the Giants had moved down from No. 11 to No. 20 in exchange for the Bears' future first-rounder and additional selections. Neal signed a four-year contract worth $24,551,258, fully guaranteed, including a $15,035,460 .

New York Giants (2022–present)

Neal was selected by the in the first round of the and has remained with the team since, primarily playing offensive tackle before transitioning to guard in 2025. As a in 2022, he started all 13 games he appeared in at right tackle, logging 737 offensive snaps. His season was cut short by an MCL sprain suffered in Week 8 against the , which sidelined him for the final four regular-season games and led to him missing the Giants' postseason matchup. Per (PFF), Neal allowed 6 sacks across 464 pass-blocking snaps, contributing to pass-protection challenges that marked his debut year. In 2023, Neal started the first seven games at right tackle but struggled with consistency before aggravating an ankle injury in Week 9 against the Las Vegas Raiders, which was later diagnosed as a small requiring . He was placed on injured reserve on December 24, missing the remainder of the season and all 10 of the Giants' final games while focusing on rehabilitation. Over those 459 snaps, PFF credited him with allowing 20 pressures on 309 pass-blocking attempts, highlighting ongoing vulnerabilities in pass protection despite some run-blocking competence. Neal's 2024 season began with a benching after Week 1 due to performance issues, limiting him to just two snaps through the first nine weeks as the Giants prioritized other linemen. He returned to action in Week 10, starting seven of the final nine games in a swing role at tackle, but his overall impact remained mixed, with PFF assigning a career-high 61.2 overall grade driven by an 80.8 run-blocking score—ranking eighth among qualifying tackles—but persistent pass-blocking woes. In limited starts, he surrendered multiple pressures, including instances of sacks allowed, as the Giants' offensive line continued to rank poorly league-wide. Heading into 2025, the Giants moved Neal to guard during the offseason in an effort to leverage his run-blocking strengths inside, a transition he embraced with additional coaching sessions; the team declined his fifth-year option for 2026 on April 26, 2025. He remained a healthy scratch for the first eight games before being activated in Week 9 due to injuries on the offensive line, but saw no game snaps. Amid reports of trade discussions at the November 4 deadline—including exploratory talks with the Las Vegas Raiders—the deal did not materialize. However, on November 15, 2025, Neal was placed on injured reserve with a injury, ending his season without any appearances. Head coach had publicly praised Neal's work ethic and professionalism during his period of limited opportunities. Through the 2025 season, Neal has appeared in 29 games with 27 starts for the Giants, accumulating over 1,656 offensive snaps. His career PFF grades hover in the 55-60 range overall, with notable strengths in run blocking (peaking at 80.8 in 2024) offset by sub-50 pass-blocking efficiency in multiple seasons, underscoring areas for technical refinement in hand usage and footwork against speed rushers. Following the 2025 season, Neal signed with AMDG Sports for representation. He will work this offseason with former Pro Bowl offensive tackle LeCharles Bentley on honest evaluation, elite development, and sustained performance, with Bentley and Jonathan Feinsod representing him through this process.

Personal life

Family background

Evan Neal was raised in a highly athletic family that emphasized competition and physical activity from a young age. His father, Eddie Neal, a former linebacker at and local sports figure in , fostered a competitive environment by organizing races during family walks and sharing stories from his playing days, such as a memorable hit on an SMU . His mother, Sheila Neal, managed the family's nutrition and logistics for their five children—three boys and two girls—amid high demands from their active lifestyles, with grocery bills reaching $80–$90 daily during the school year and $500 weekly in summer due to the need for substantial meals to fuel growing athletes. Neal's siblings contributed to a tall, athletic household dynamic, with his two sisters both standing at 6 feet 2 inches and all five siblings participating in , while the brothers—Neal, older brother Eddie, and younger brother Edrick—also played football. This environment, marked by sandlot games and shared sports exposure in Okeechobee, built Neal's early athletic foundation. His extended family includes several professional football players who provided inspiration and guidance. Uncle Jimmy Gary Jr., Sheila's brother and a former for and the , introduced Neal to and led rigorous "" runs exceeding four miles, serving as one of Neal's early . Cleveland Gary, his mother's cousin and a first-round pick by the [Los Angeles Rams](/page/Los Angeles_Rams) in 1989, had an NFL career from 1989 to 1993, accumulating 2,645 rushing yards across stints with the Rams and . Uncle by marriage Jimmie Jones, a from the , played from 1990 to 1997, winning two Super Bowls (XXVII and XXVIII) with the before brief stints with the Rams and Eagles. Additionally, uncle Frankie Neal, from his father's side and a former receiver at the , was drafted by the . Throughout Neal's career, his family offered unwavering encouragement and practical support, emphasizing perseverance and respect for one's talents amid challenges. Relatives shared NFL insights during visits, while his parents provided daily motivation; following his selection in the , Eddie and Sheila reflected on the collective effort, with Neal noting, "It takes a village, man," in acknowledging their role in his journey.

Community involvement

Neal has shown a deep connection to his hometown of , channeling his upbringing into community efforts that support local youth and strengthen team camaraderie. Since 2023, Neal has hosted annual youth football camps at Okeechobee High School and other local venues, providing hands-on training and motivational guidance to hundreds of children. His inaugural camp in June 2023 drew 500 to 600 participants. He continued with the second annual camp in June 2024 and the third in July 2025. That same year, during the offseason, he arranged an alligator airboat tour in the Florida Everglades for several teammates, promoting bonding and introducing them to elements of his Okeechobee heritage. Neal has organized back-to-school extravaganzas in Okeechobee, distributing free school supplies, providing food, and featuring live music for families. In July 2025, he hosted an event at the Douglas Brown Community Center, drawing significant community participation. During the 2025 offseason, Neal returned to in —his high school —for intensive training focused on skill refinement and physical conditioning. From his youth, Neal pursued interests in both football and , playing the latter competitively before dedicating himself fully to gridiron pursuits.

References

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