Freeman McNeil facts for kids

Freeman McNeil, born on April 22, 1959, is a former professional football player. He was a talented running back for the New York Jets in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the pros, he played college football for the UCLA Bruins. The Jets chose him as the third overall pick in the first round of the 1981 NFL draft.

Early Life and College Football

Freeman McNeil was born in Jackson, Mississippi. His family later moved to Los Angeles, California.

He showed his football skills early on. McNeil led Banning High School to win the Los Angeles City 4-A football title in 1976. After high school, he went to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). There, he continued to play as a running back. He was chosen twice for the All-Pac-10 team, which recognizes top players in his college conference.

In his last college game, McNeil made an amazing play. He caught a pass that was tipped by a defender. He ran 57 yards for the winning touchdown with only two minutes left. This helped the Bruins win 20–17. During his four years at UCLA, McNeil ran for over 3,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns.

Playing in the NFL

Freeman McNeil played for the New York Jets for 12 seasons, from 1981 to 1992. He was a key player for the team. In the mid-1980s, he and teammate Johnny Hector formed a strong running duo. They were known as the "Two Headed Monster" and were among the best in the league.

When McNeil retired, he was the Jets' all-time leading rusher. He had run for 8,074 yards in his career. Later, another player named Curtis Martin passed his record. McNeil is now second in Jets team history for rushing yards.

In 1982, McNeil led the entire NFL in rushing yards with 786 yards. He was the first player from the Jets to achieve this. He is also one of the few running backs in NFL history who averaged at least 4.0 yards per carry in every season he played. This shows how consistently good he was.

During the 1982–83 NFL playoffs, McNeil had an incredible game. He ran for 202 yards and scored a rushing touchdown. He even threw a passing touchdown! This helped the Jets win against the Cincinnati Bengals. It was the Jets' first playoff win in 14 seasons.

Fighting for Player Rights

From 1990 to 1992, Freeman McNeil was the main player in an important legal case. This case challenged the NFL's "Plan B" system for players. Under this system, teams could keep 37 players from leaving to play for other teams. McNeil and other players felt this system was unfair.

The court agreed that the system was too strict. It was seen as limiting players' freedom to choose where they played. This lawsuit was a big step. It helped players gain more rights to become "free agents." This means players could have more control over their careers and choose which team to play for.

Honors and Awards

Freeman McNeil's achievements have been recognized. In 2005, he was honored by being inducted into the Nassau County Sports Hall of Fame.