On Sunday, former Atlanta Falcons safety Keanu Neal announced his retirement from the NFL after eight seasons. Neal was selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Florida.
The 29-year-old helped the Falcons reach the Super Bowl during his rookie season and made a Pro Bowl in 2017. Neal’s career in Atlanta was derailed by injuries, playing in just four total games in 2018 and 2019.
The veteran safety announced his retirement on social media and thanked the Falcons along with several others:
Wanna give a big thank you to the Atlanta Falcons for drafting and giving me a chance to make an impact. To the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Bucs, and Pittsburgh Steelers.. Thank you for allowing me to continue my career with you. All top notch organizations. I am incredibly grateful for the coaches and teammates I had the privilege of working with along the way. Sumter County, South Sumter High, Wolfpack, University of Florida, my family and friends.. THANK YOU! All the lessons learned through the game has helped mold me into who I am today. — Keanu Neal via Instagram
Neal temporarily switched to linebacker after signing with the Dallas Cowboys in 2021 but never got back to the Pro Bowl level he played at early in his career. He last played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, appearing in nine games.
Over eight NFL seasons, Neal appeared in 89 total games (69 starts), recording 523 tackles (361 solo), eight forced fumbles and four interceptions.