Fred McNeill '76

Football player and lawyer, Fred McNeill '76 passed away November 3, 2015 due to complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

McNeill was a UCLA football letterwinner who started for three seasons at defensive end for coach Pepper Rodgers in 1971, 1972 and 1973. After being presented the John Boncheff, Jr. Trophy as the team’s Rookie of the Year in 1971, McNeill went on to lead the team in tackles in 1972, with 89, and win the team’s N.N. Sugarman Award for Best Leadership. He earned first-team All-Coast honors in both 1972 and 1973.

In the 1974 NFL Draft, McNeill was a first-round selection of the Minnesota Vikings and the 17th selection overall.

Off the field, McNeill attended law school classes during his NFL playing days. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, in Minnesota, and went on to serve as a lawyer for more than 20 years.

McNeill, who was a member of the 2012 UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Class, attended Baldwin Park, California High School where he also lettered in basketball and track.

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