Fred McNeill, American football player, Died at 63

  Sports

Frederick Arnold McNeill was born on May 6, 1952, and died on November 3, 2015.

He was a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for 12 seasons from 1974 to 1985.

Fred was selected out of UCLA by the Vikings in the first round of the 1974 NFL Draft with the 17th overall selection.

In 1973, he was named to the All-Coast/Conference First Team.

He played on defenses that led the NFC in fewest points allowed in 1976 and the NFL in fewest total yards allowed in 1975 and fewest passing yards allowed in 1976.

Fred appeared in 2 Super Bowls with the Vikings, Super Bowl IX and Super Bowl XI. McNeill blocked a punt in Super Bowl XI.

During his last campaign with the Vikings, he began his studies at the William Mitchell College of Law, where graduated at the top of his class.

He has had to endure chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in recent years.

Fred was voted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012.

Fred passed away at age 63 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis on November 3, 2015. He also had dementia his later years.