Lorenzo Neal Lorenzo LaVonne Neal ( born December 27 , 1970 ) is a former American football fullback who played in the National Football League ( NFL ) for sixteen seasons . Neal played college football for Fresno State University . He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft . A four - time Pro Bowl selection and three - time All - Pro , he was also a member of the New York Jets , Tampa Bay Buccaneers , Tennessee Titans , Cincinnati Bengals , San Diego Chargers , Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders . Considered one of the best blocking fullbacks in NFL history , Neal blocked for a 1 , 000 + yard running back in eleven straight seasons from 1997 to 2007 . Early years . Neal attended Lemoore High School in Lemoore , California and was a letterman in football and wrestling . He set many rushing records with over 2 , 000 yards in rushing in a season , which would later be broken by Nick Sula . In wrestling , he won a state championship as a senior . Neal still owns the California state record for fastest pin in a match against Michael Weisser . College career . Neal attended Fresno State University from 1989 – 1992 , where he rushed for 2 , 405 yards . He was an All - Big West selection his junior and senior seasons . He also placed seventh at the 1992 NCAA wrestling tournament in the . heavyweight class . Neal finished career as school ’ s second - leading rusher with 2 , 405 yards and played in the Japan Bowl All - Star Game . He defeated a sumo wrestler in an exhibition match in Japan during the Japan Bowl . He graduated with a degree in criminal justice . In 1991 , he ran for 837 yards and 8 TD . In 1992 he ran for 988 yards and 10 TD . Professional career . New Orleans Saints . Neal was selected in the fourth round ( 89th overall ) of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints . Neal , as a Halfback made his NFL debut on September 5 , against the Houston Oilers and led the team in rushing with 13 carries for 89 yards , it was his first of two starts as a rookie . Just seven days later , he suffered a season - ending ankle injury during a road game against the Atlanta Falcons . Then on September 15 , he was placed on Injured Reserve , ending his season . He was later told he would not be able to run as he had before , so his coaches proposed the idea that he be switched to fullback . Then in 1994 , he set career high with 30 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown . In 1995 , he caught a career - long 69 - yard touchdown pass during a road game against the New England Patriots on December 3 . In 1996 , he set career highs with 31 receptions for 194 receiving yards in his last season with the Saints . New York Jets . In 1997 , Neal signed with the New York Jets , on March 31 . In his lone season with the team , he helped running back Adrian Murrell rush for 1 , 086 yards . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . On March 12 , 1998 , Neal was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a fifth - round pick . In his season in Tampa Bay , he helped Warrick Dunn rush for 1 , 026 yards . He was then released by the Buccaneers on February 11 , 1999 . Tennessee Titans . On March 23 , 1999 , Neal signed with the Tennessee Titans . Where during his first season with the team , he helped Eddie George rush for 1 , 304 yards in the regular season , and two 100 - yard games in the playoffs . Neal also helped run the " Music City Miracle , " against the Buffalo Bills en route to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV against the St . Louis Rams . He was also selected to " USA Today " ’ s All - Joe team . In 2000 , Neal helped George rush for 1 , 509 yards and 14 touchdowns . Neal was named the " NFL ' s Best Blocking Fullback " by " Sporting News " . He was also named to " Sports Illustrated " ' s midseason All - Pro team . He was also named a Pro Bowl third - alternate . He was released by the Titans on March 1 , 2001 . Cincinnati Bengals . After two seasons with the Titans , and one Super Bowl appearance , Neal signed with the Cincinnati Bengals on May 8 , 2001 , where in his first season with the team , he helped Corey Dillon rush for 1 , 315 yards . After the season Neal was named to " USA Today ' s " All - Joe team . He was also selected as a Pro Bowl Second - alternate . In 2002 , Neal helped Dillon rush for 1 , 311 yards . He also recorded a one - yard touchdown receptions , against his former team , the Tennessee Titans on October 27 . He also was selected to his first Pro Bowl . San Diego Chargers . On March 3 , 2003 , Neal signed with the San Diego Chargers and began the longest stint of his career , with one team , five seasons . During his first season blocking for LaDainian Tomlinson , he helped him rush for 1 , 645 yards and the team to rush for a total of 2 , 146 yards . Tomlinson became Neal ' s fifth 1 , 000 yard rusher he blocked for . He scored his first touchdown of the season on a three - yard run on the road against the Oakland Raiders on September 28 . He also carried the ball three times for seven yards in short yardage situations against the Baltimore Ravens on September 21 , all three of which resulted in first downs . He recorded a season - high seven carries for 22 yards on the road against the Cleveland Browns on October 19 . For the season , he was named to " USA Today " ' s All - Joe team , as well as a Pro Bowl First - alternate . In 2004 , Neal helped Tomlinson rush for 1 , 335 yards and the Chargers rush for 2 , 185 yards as total . Neal also recorded a 12 - yard kickoff return against his former team , the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 12 . He was also named Chargers Alumni Player of Week after rushing four times for season - high 16 yards on the road against the Browns on December 19 . He was , once again , named to " USA Today " ' s All - Joe team . He was also , named a Pro Bowl first - alternate , once again . The 2005 season began with an historic moment in Neal ' s career , he played in his 100th career game , in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys . A game in which he recorded three carries on short yardage plays , all resulting in first downs . For the season he was named a Pro Bowl starter . He was also named to the " All - Interview " team by " NFL . com " . On October 28 , 2005 , he signed a two - year contract extension through 2007 . In 2006 , Neal helped Tomlinson and Michael Turner record 194 - rushing yards for the September 11 season opening 27 – 0 win in Oakland . The Chargers scored two rushing touchdowns , one by Tomlinson and one by Turner . Neal helped block for a 241 - rushing yard performance against the Titans in a 40 – 7 Week 2 win , which included two Tomlinson rushing touchdowns . On October 15 , during a road game against the San Francisco 49ers , Neal helped Tomlinson tie a team record and set a career - high with four rushing touchdowns . In the Chargers 35 – 27 win over the Browns on November 5 , Neal played in his 200th - consecutive game and helped the Chargers rush for 190 yards and three touchdowns . During November 19 35 – 27 Chargers win , he helped Tomlinson rush for 105 yards and three touchdowns , which put Tomlinson over 1 , 000 yards for season , marking the 10th - straight year Neal was the lead blocker for a 1 , 000 - yard rusher . He scored his first touchdown of the season against the Denver Broncos on December 10 , on four - yard trick play run called the “ Bumarooski ” late in first quarter , it was his first rushing touchdown since September 28 , 2003 at Oakland and gave the Chargers a 14 – 0 lead . He also threw a key block on Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Kendrell Bell that helped Tomlinson run for a career - long 85 - yard touchdown on December 17 , it was the third - longest run in team history . Neal also helped contribute to the Chargers recording 265 rushing yards , fifth - most in team history . He was named to his third Pro Bowl and was a First - team All - Pro selection by the " Associated Press " , " USA Today " , " Sports Weekly " and " ESPN . com " . In 2007 , Neal had his streak of 221 consecutive games played come to an end when he was inactive for Week 14 against the Detroit Lions , while he recovered from a broken leg suffered the previous week against the Titans ; he had not missed a game since 1994 . Against the Chiefs , he helped Tomlinson surpass 1 , 000 yards , marking the 11th - straight season as the lead blocker for a 1 , 000 yard rusher . Neal recorded a touchdown reception on a fourth - and - goal play in Week 2 on the road against the New England Patriots , ( his first touchdown reception since 2005 ) . He was named to his fourth Pro Bowl and was named First - team All - Pro by the " Associated Press " and All - NFL by " USA Today " and " Sports Weekly " . On February 28 , 2008 Neal was waived by San Diego . Baltimore Ravens . On August 12 , 2008 the Baltimore Ravens signed Neal to a one year contract . Neal played in his first game with the Ravens Week one against the Bengals , when he served as the back - up to Le ' Ron McClain and helped the Ravens rush for 229 yards and recorded one reception for 13 yards . During Week 2 , he carried the ball once for two yards and helped the Ravens hold the ball for 13 : 18 in the fourth quarter against the Browns . During Week 5 , on the road against the Indianapolis Colts he subbed for McClain and helped protect rookie Quarterback Joe Flacco , allowing him to set career - highs with a 73 . 7 % completion and 241 passing yards . During Week 8 in Cleveland , Neal subbed for McClain and helped the Ravens rush for a season high 193 yards in the 37 – 27 victory . He also carried the ball once for two yards . In Week 10 ( at the New York Giants ) , Neal started his first game as a Raven and helped protect Joe Flacco , allowing him to complete 60 . 6 % of his passes and holding the Giants to just one sack . Oakland Raiders . Neal was signed by the Oakland Raiders on May 8 , 2009 . He was waived / injured on August 19 to make room for safety Rashad Baker and subsequently reverted to injured reserve . He was released with an injury settlement on August 26 . He was expected to push Oren O ' Neal and Luke Lawton for the starting fullback job . In September 2009 , Neal was selected to the " Sporting News Magazine " ' s Team of the Decade for the 2000s . He spent the rest of the 2009 – 10 season out of football . Personal . Neal and wife Denisha have one son , Lorenzo , and twin daughters , Nylya and Mia .