Former Oklahoma football All-American and longtime Dallas Cowboys’ standout Ralph Neely died this week at his home in Dallas, Texas, at the age of 78.
The Cowboys announced Neely’s death Wednesday night via social media.
Neely was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but grew up in New Mexico. He was a three-sport star at Farmington (New Mexico) High School: a two-time all-state tackle in football, a center on the basketball team and a shot-putter in track and field.
He was recruited by Bud Wilkinson to play football at Oklahoma. At 6-foot, 6 inches and nearly 250 pounds, Neely was one of the biggest players in college football at the time he played,
As they did in those days, Neely played both ways for the Sooners, on offense and defense. He was a two-time All-Big Eight selection and a two-time All-American at OU (1963 and 1964). He was a consensus All-American in 1964.
Despite his All-American status, Neely was one of three Oklahoma stars who missed the Sooners’ 1965 Gator Bowl game against Florida State. Neely, fullback Jim Grisham and receiver/running back Lance Rentzel were all ruled ineligible because they had signed with professional teams before the bowl game. Florida State All-American receiver Fred Biletnikoff (the namesake for the annual award honoring the best college receiver) caught four touchdown passes and Oklahoma lost to FSU 36-19.
Neely was drafted in the second round of the AFL Draft in 1965 by the Houston Oilers and the second round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts. He signed with the Oilers before the Dallas Cowboys acquired his rights in a trade. Neely returned his check to the Oilers, joined the Cowboys and the Oilers filed a lawsuit against the Cowboys. The lawsuit was resolved a year later when the AFL and NFL merged.
Neely played all 13 of his NFL seasons with the Cowboys, including two Super Bowl championship teams (VI and XII). He earned all-rookie honors in 1965, was a four-time NFL All-Pro and was named to the NFL 1960s All-Decade team.
His played right tackle for the Cowboys his first five seasons in the NFL and moved to left tackle for his final eight professional seasons.
In 2014, Neely was inducted into the New Mexico Sports Hall of Fame.