Former Pro Bowl Safety Keanu Neal Retires after Seven Seasons

Former NFL safety Keanu Neal has announced his retirement at the age of 29 after an eight-season career, primarily with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was a first-round draft pick in 2016 and made a Pro Bowl appearance in 2017. His career was significantly affected by injuries, limiting his playing time in 2018 and 2019, which led to one-year contracts with subsequent teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Neal's final season saw him with the Steelers, where he recorded 50 tackles and an interception before being released after failing a physical in March 2024. In his retirement announcement, Neal expressed gratitude toward his former teams and reflected on the lessons learned throughout his football journey. Despite the early conclusion to his career, Neal maintains a positive outlook for the future. His retirement underscores the unpredictable nature of professional football careers, where injuries can abruptly end promising paths.