Marcus McNeill

Last updated

Marcus McNeill
Marcus McNeill.JPG
McNeill during the 2009 NFL season
No. 73
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1983-11-16) November 16, 1983 (age 40)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
Weight:336 lb (152 kg)
Career information
High school: Cedar Grove (Ellenwood, Georgia)
College: Auburn
NFL draft: 2006  / round: 2 / pick: 50
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:82
Games started:82
Fumble recoveries:2
Player stats at PFR

Marcus McNeill (born November 16, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for six seasons with the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers football, and was two-time All-American. San Diego selected McNeill in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft, and he played his entire pro career with the Chargers. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice.

Contents

Early life

McNeill was born in Chicago, Illinois. He attended Cedar Grove High School in southern DeKalb County, Georgia (a suburb of Atlanta), and played both offensive and defensive line for the Cedar Grove Saints, earning SuperPrep All-American honors. He played in the Georgia-Florida High School All-Star Game as a senior. McNeill was also a standout track star finishing second in the state in the shot put. [1]

College career

McNeill attended Auburn University, where he played for coach Tommy Tuberville's Auburn Tigers football team from 2002 to 2005. [2] He started 28 total games in his four years as a lineman. He blocked for future NFL running backs Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown, and allowed only one quarterback sack as a guard. Following his 2004 junior season during which he helped lead the Auburn Tigers to an undefeated 13–0 record, he was a first-team All-SEC selection, and a first-team All-American. After his senior season in 2005, he again received first-team All-SEC honors and was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American; he was later named to The Sporting News All-Decade Team. [3]

Professional career

McNeill was selected with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. [4] McNeill worked out at D1 Sports Training in Nashville, TN prior to the NFL Draft. Despite a stellar college career at Auburn, many teams were worried about McNeill's injury history; namely having spinal stenosis or a narrowing of the spine and the fact that he did not do much weight training at Auburn. McNeill was unable to lift during pre-draft workouts due to a fractured right hand. Despite these obstacles, McNeill still impressed with his physically imposing size and 35+38 in (900 mm) arms. [5]

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm length 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Wonderlic
6 ft 7+58 in
(2.02 m)
336 lb
(152 kg)
35+38 in
(0.90 m)
5.08 s1.79 s2.98 s5.00 s8.19 s31 in
(0.79 m)
8 ft 2 in
(2.49 m)
23
All results from the 2006 NFL Combine

Despite being the seventh lineman selected in the 2006 draft and playing the majority of the season with broken hands, McNeill was voted a first alternate to the 2007 Pro Bowl and made the team after an injury to starter Willie Anderson. Commentator Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com referred to him late in the 2006 season as "one of the elite left tackles" in the NFL. [6] A rookie starter at left tackle for the entire season, McNeill was a crucial component of the offensive line that blocked for running back LaDainian Tomlinson as he established a number of single season offensive records. [7] The majority of Tomlinson's long gains came from running behind the left side of the offensive line, behind McNeill and guard Kris Dielman. McNeill was not called for a single holding penalty in the 2006 season.

McNeill finished 4th in voting for the 2006 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, [8] a remarkable finish for an offensive lineman. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Month for September.

The next season McNeill was again named to the Pro Bowl after Jonathan Ogden pulled out.

In 2010 McNeill was a holdout from Chargers camp. He ended his hold out on September 25 and reported to the San Diego Chargers. A few days after ending his hold out, McNeill and the Chargers agreed to a 6-year, $48.895 million deal. [9]

After managing to play only nine games in 2011 due to poor health, numerous sources expected the Chargers to release McNeill in the offseason. On March 13, 2012, he was released.

On August 9, 2012, he announced his retirement from the NFL. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Takeo Spikes</span> American football player (born 1976)

Takeo Gerard Spikes is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Auburn Tigers. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 13th overall pick in the 1998 NFL draft. A two-time Pro Bowl selection and one-time All-Pro, Spikes also played for the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, and San Diego Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Seymour</span> American poker player and football player (born 1979)

Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, and was drafted by the Patriots sixth overall in the 2001 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommie Harris</span> American football player (born 1983)

Tommie Harris Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Oklahoma, and was recognized as a consensus All-American twice. The Chicago Bears chose him in the first round of the 2004 NFL draft, and he also played a season for the San Diego Chargers. He was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Faneca</span> American football player (born 1976)

Alan Joseph Faneca is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons. He played college football for Louisiana State University (LSU), and earned consensus All-America honors. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft, and played professionally for the Steelers, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals of the NFL. A six-time first-team All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Faneca won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XL, defeating the Seattle Seahawks. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021 and on May 10, 2021, he was introduced as the head football coach of Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Willie Aaron Anderson is an American former football offensive tackle who played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was selected by the Bengals 10th overall of the 1996 NFL draft. A four-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection, Anderson played his first 12 seasons with the Bengals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary "Big Hands" Johnson</span> American football player (1952–2010)

Gary Lynn "Big Hands" Johnson was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He was a four-time All-Pro and a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He played the majority of his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, and he was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamal Williams</span> American football player (born 1976)

Jamal Williams is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 1998 Supplemental Draft. He played college football for Oklahoma State Cowboys. After three consecutive All-Pro seasons in the NFL, Williams—at a massive 6′3″, 350 pounds—was described as a "textbook block-of-granite noseman" by Sports Illustrated′s Peter King in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Russ Washington</span> American football player (1946–2021)

Russell Eugene Washington was an American professional football offensive tackle who played for the San Diego Chargers of the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) from 1968 to 1982, playing his first two seasons as a defensive tackle. He was taken in the first round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football for the Missouri Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed White (American football)</span> American football player (born 1947)

Edward Alvin White is an American former professional football player who played as a guard in the National Football League (NFL). After retiring from football, White has worked as a coach and artist.

Michael Leslie Zandofsky is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Hardwick (American football)</span> American football player (born 1981)

Nicholas Adam Hardwick is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL), playing his entire 11-year career for the San Diego Chargers. He currently serves as the assistant offensive line coach for the Chargers. He was selected by the Chargers in the third round of the 2004 NFL draft, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2006. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Phillips</span> American football player (born 1981)

Shaun Jamal Phillips is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers and was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft. Phillips also played for the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, and Indianapolis Colts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Goff (American football)</span> American football player and coach (born 1976)

Michael Jason Goff is an American college football coach and former professional player who is an offensive line coach for the San Diego State Aztecs. He played as a guard in the National Football League (NFL). Goff played collegiately for the Iowa Hawkeyes before being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Grubbs</span> American football player (born 1984)

Benjamin Richard Grubbs is an American former professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers, and was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Dunlap</span> American football player (born 1985)

King David Dunlap V is a former American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn, and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. He also played for the San Diego Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Bogle</span> American football player (born 1979)

Phillip R. Bogle is a former American football guard and assistant head coach and general manager for the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League (AFL). He was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at New Haven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Bulaga</span> American football player (born 1989)

Bryan Joseph Bulaga is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft, winning Super Bowl XLV that season. He also played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D. J. Fluker</span> American football player (born 1991)

Danny Lee Jesus "D. J." Fluker is an American professional football offensive tackle who is a free agent. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he was recognized as an All-American.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spencer Drango</span> American football player (born 1992)

Spencer Joseph Drango is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears. A Freshman All-American in 2012, Drango was considered one of the best offensive tackles in his class. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rashawn Slater</span> American football player (born 1999)

Rashawn Slater is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Northwestern Wildcats and was selected by the Chargers in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

References

  1. Chargers.com - Team » Roster » #73 Marcus McNeill | OT Archived April 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. "2005 Tigers (pp. 35-71)" (PDF). 2005 Auburn Football Media Guide. Auburn University. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
  3. "Marcus McNeill named to college football All-Decade team". AuburnUndercover. 2009. Archived from the original on September 27, 2009. Retrieved September 26, 2009.
  4. "2006 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
  5. Packers.com » News » Stories » April 21, 2006: Gil Brandt's Analysis By Position: Offensive Line Archived September 29, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Pasquarelli, Len (December 22, 2006). "Pasquarelli: McNeill leads solid group of rookie O-linemen". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  7. "Win Yields Title, Date With History". San Diego Chargers. 2006. Archived from the original on January 1, 2007. Retrieved January 5, 2007.
  8. "Young runs away with NFL offensive rookie award". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 3, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  9. "Chargers' McNeill agrees to 5-year extension". Associated Press. 2010.[ dead link ]
  10. Axson, Scooby (August 9, 2012). "Former Chargers lineman Marcus McNeill will retire". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 23, 2023.