Stephen Neal Stephen Matthew Neal ( born October 9 , 1976 ) is a former American football guard who played his entire career for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He is a former national champion amateur and collegiate wrestler at Cal State - Bakersfield . He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2001 , and won three Super Bowl ring s with the team . Early years . Neal attended San Diego High School in San Diego , California and was a letterman in football , wrestling , swimming , tennis , and track and field . In wrestling , as a senior , he posted a 45 – 2 record and placed fourth at the California State Wrestling Tournament in the 189 - pound weight class . In 1995 , he wrestled and defeated future NFL running back Ricky Williams . Wrestling career . Neal attended California State University , Bakersfield and became one of the top wrestlers in the nation , compiling a 151 – 10 record with four All - America n seasons . He placed fourth in NCAA Division I as a freshman and second as a sophomore before winning titles his junior and senior year . His final title in 1999 came via a win over future NCAA wrestling champion , WWE Champion , and UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar . In 1999 , Neal won the Dan Hodge Award following a year in which he won the U . S . Freestyle Championship , the Pan - American Games title and the World Championship . at 286 pounds . In 1999 , he won the FILA outstanding wrestler award , an honor given to the best wrestler in the world . His 1999 season led up to the 2000 Summer Olympics trials where Kerry McCoy edged him for the trip to Sydney , Australia . After the trials , Neal retired from wrestling . Neal set Pac - 10 Conference records by finishing 34 – 0 in conference competition , while becoming the conference ' s first four - time winner in the same weight class , and second four - time winner ever . He finished his college career as Cal State - Bakersfield ' s career record holder in wins ( 156 ) and also set school records for pins in a season ( 31 ) and a career ( 71 ) . While at Cal State - Bakersfield , Neal was a four - time Academic All - America n and a four - time Pac - 10 Academic All - Conference selection . During a March 30 , 2011 interview on SiriusXM " Opie & Anthony " , Brock Lesnar said that his loss to Neal still sticks with him . Football career . First stint with Patriots . Despite not playing football in college , Neal was signed by the New England Patriots on July 23 , 2001 as an undrafted free agent . He was waived by the Patriots on August 26 , 2001 . Philadelphia Eagles . The Philadelphia Eagles signed Neal to their practice squad on September 4 , 2001 . Second stint with Patriots . The Patriots re - signed Neal off the Eagles ' practice squad on December 12 , 2001 , and he was inactive for the final three games of his 2001 rookie season , as well as the playoffs and Super Bowl XXXVI . In 2002 , Neal made the Patriots ' 53 - man roster out of training camp and spent the first four games of the season inactive before making his NFL debut as a reserve in Week 5 . The next week against the Green Bay Packers , Neal made his first career start at guard , but suffered a season - ending shoulder injury in the game and was placed on injured reserve on October 23 , 2002 . The shoulder injury caused Neal to miss the entire 2003 as well , after being placed on the Physically Unable to Perform ( PUP ) list to start the season . After playing in two games as a reserve to start the 2004 season , Neal went on to start the final 14 games of the season , earning his third Super Bowl ring with the team by winning Super Bowl XXXIX . Neal started all 16 games for the Patriots in 2005 , and re - signed with the team after testing the free agent market following the season . Neal started 13 games in 2006 at right guard , missing three games with a shoulder injury . He would return in 2007 to play and start in only eight games due to injury , but started all three playoff games , including Super Bowl XLII . After beginning the 2008 season on the PUP list with a shoulder injury , Neal returned to play in the final 11 games of the season , starting the final nine games . In 2009 , Neal missed time with the shoulder injury again , but played in and started 12 games . In March 2010 , Neal was re - signed to a two - year contract . Neal then played in the first eight games of the 2010 season before being placed on injured reserve with the shoulder injury on December 2 , 2010 . Neal retired on March 2 , 2011 after filing his retirement papers with the league .