Leslie O'Neal is a former American football defensive end who played for the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams, and Kansas City Chiefs during his career. He was born on May 6, 1964, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played college football.
O'Neal was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the league's premier pass rushers. He was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1986 after recording 12.5 sacks, and he went on to earn six Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro honors during his career.
In his 13 seasons in the NFL, O'Neal recorded 132.5 sacks, which ranks him 13th on the all-time list. He also had 13 fumble recoveries, four interceptions, and two touchdowns. O'Neal was known for his quickness off the line of scrimmage and his ability to disrupt opposing offenses.
O'Neal played for the Chargers from 1986 to 1995, and he was a key member of the team that reached the Super Bowl in 1994. He signed with the St. Louis Rams in 1996 and played there for two seasons before finishing his career with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1998 to 1999.
Despite his impressive statistics and accolades, O'Neal never won a Super Bowl during his career. However, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive players in Chargers history, and he was inducted into the team's Hall of Fame in 2014.
After retiring from football, O'Neal became a successful businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Leslie O'Neal Foundation, which provides scholarships and other support to underprivileged children in his hometown of Little Rock.
Overall, Leslie O'Neal had a remarkable football career that spanned more than a decade. He was a dominant pass rusher who earned numerous accolades and helped lead his teams to success. Today, he is remembered as one of the greatest players in Chargers history and a true legend of the game.
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