Neil O'Donnell is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He began his football career at the University of Maryland, where he played for four years and set several school records.
In 1990, O'Donnell was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the NFL Draft. He spent his first five seasons with the Steelers, where he served as a backup quarterback before becoming the team's starter in 1995. During his time in Pittsburgh, O'Donnell helped lead the team to the playoffs three times and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1992.
In 1996, O'Donnell signed with the New York Jets as a free agent. He spent two seasons with the Jets, where he set several team records and helped lead the team to the AFC Championship Game in 1998.
After his time with the Jets, O'Donnell signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1998. He spent one season with the Bengals before being released and signing with the Tennessee Titans in 1999.
O'Donnell's time with the Titans was perhaps the most successful of his career. He served as the team's backup quarterback for most of the season, but was thrust into the starting role during the playoffs after starter Steve McNair was injured. O'Donnell helped lead the Titans to the Super Bowl that year, where they ultimately lost to the St. Louis Rams.
After the Super Bowl loss, O'Donnell signed with the Cincinnati Bengals for a second time in 2000. He spent one more season with the Bengals before retiring from football in 2004.
Throughout his career, O'Donnell was known for his accuracy and ability to read defenses. He finished his career with over 24,000 passing yards and 120 touchdowns. While he never won a Super Bowl as a starting quarterback, he was a key contributor to the Titans' run to the Super Bowl in 1999.
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