Ryan Neuzil Bio
Ryan Scott Neuzil (born July 31, 1997) is an American professional football center for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 305 pounds, he plays a physical interior line position that requires both strength and technical footwork. Known for his steady development through the Appalachian State program, Neuzil has carved out a long-term role in Atlanta after beginning his career as an undrafted free agent.
Born and raised in Bradenton, Florida, Neuzil has spent his entire professional career with the Atlanta Falcons since 2021. He works in the trenches on the offensive line, where his consistency has helped him earn a multi-year contract extension and a steady place in the team’s rotation.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Scott Neuzil was born on July 31, 1997, in Bradenton, Florida. He grew up in a region with deep high school football traditions, and he attended Braden River High School in the local community. At Braden River, he lined up at tight end and showed an early knack for pass catching, finishing his senior season with 26 receptions for 470 yards and two touchdowns. He was also used as the team’s punter, averaging roughly 45 yards per punt, which highlighted the versatility that would later help him adjust to a new college position.
Neuzil earned first-team all-district and all-area recognition at tight end during his senior year. Rated as a two-star recruit, he received twelve scholarship offers and chose Appalachian State, where the coaching staff moved him to a different role on the offensive line. His father, Jeff Neuzil, had a sports background of his own, having played in the Kansas City Royals baseball organization at the Triple-A level, which gave Ryan an early appreciation for professional training and competition.
Path to American Football
Neuzil joined Appalachian State as a tight end recruit, but the program converted him to the offensive line, where he began working at center. As a true freshman in 2016, he redshirted to add size and learn the playbook. In 2017, he appeared in seven games, opening the year as a backup center before sliding into a starting role at left guard. That position switch gave Appalachian State a versatile interior lineman who could handle multiple spots along the line.
The next two seasons showed steady growth. As a sophomore in 2018, Neuzil started all 13 games at left guard and earned second-team all-conference recognition from Pro Football Focus. In 2019, he became a first-team all-conference selection after starting all 14 games. His senior campaign in 2020 brought more honors, including first-team all-conference nods from PFF and second-team All-American recognition from Sporting News and PFF. After that season, he declared for the NFL draft and began preparing for the next step.
Ryan Neuzil Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
After going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft, Neuzil signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent. He was waived at final roster cuts but was quickly re-signed to the practice squad. A brief release in late October 2021 led to another return to the practice squad in early November. Over that entire rookie season, Neuzil worked behind the scenes in Atlanta, learning the team’s offensive system and building his strength.
In January 2022, Neuzil signed a reserve/future contract with the Falcons to stay in the organization. He was again waived at final roster cuts that year and returned to the practice squad. During the 2022 season, he was elevated to the active roster for the Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Chargers and made his NFL debut in a 17–20 loss, playing four special teams snaps. Atlanta promoted him to the active roster on November 22, 2022, ending a long developmental path through the practice squad.
Atlanta Falcons Breakthrough (2023–2024)
After his promotion late in 2022, Neuzil continued to develop within the Atlanta system and earned a more regular role on the offensive line and special teams units. On March 3, 2024, he signed a one-year contract extension with the Falcons, a sign that the organization valued his reliability and depth at the center position. By the end of the 2024 season, Neuzil had moved from a practice squad hopeful into a dependable reserve along the interior.
His growth through the Falcons’ development pipeline showed that undrafted players can earn long-term roles with patience and consistency. Atlanta’s coaching staff worked him at center, the position he also handled at Appalachian State, giving him a clear path to long-term roster value.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2025–Present)
On May 28, 2025, Neuzil signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Falcons, locking in his place on the roster through the 2026 season. The deal reflected the team’s confidence in his continued growth and his value as a reliable interior lineman. Heading into the 2025 campaign, Neuzil remained part of Atlanta’s offensive line group, working alongside the team’s established veterans.
The extension came after several seasons of grinding through practice squad promotions and short-term contracts, giving Neuzil long-term security at the NFL level. With his new deal in place, he continued to focus on earning a larger role within the Falcons’ offensive line rotation.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although linemen are not typically described in driving terms, Neuzil brings a steady, assignment-sound style of play to the Atlanta offensive line. His experience at both guard and center from his college days gives him positional flexibility, and his background as a high school punter shows the kind of leg strength and coordination that translates to trench work. Coaches have leaned on his technique, his football IQ, and his willingness to play through developmental seasons to fit him into the team’s plans.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Neuzil’s career came in 2022, when he made his NFL debut against the Los Angeles Chargers after years of waiting on the practice squad. His promotion to the active roster on November 22, 2022, marked the point where his dream of playing regular-season NFL football became real. The 2025 contract extension also stands as a major milestone, rewarding him with $9.5 million over two years and confirming his status as part of Atlanta’s long-term plans.
Ryan Neuzil Career Wins
Ryan Neuzil’s career achievements are measured more in roster milestones and contract growth than in individual postseason awards at the NFL level. Since entering the league in 2021, he has worked his way from undrafted free agent to multi-year contract extension, which represents a meaningful win for a player who was never selected in the draft. His college résumé, which included first-team all-conference selections and All-American recognition, laid the groundwork for those professional accomplishments.
Atlanta Falcons Highlights
With the Atlanta Falcons, Neuzil’s biggest wins have come in contract form and roster stability. He made his NFL debut in 2022, was retained on the active roster at the end of that season, and secured a one-year extension in March 2024. In May 2025, he added a two-year, $9.5 million extension that runs through the 2026 season, cementing his future with the organization.
Other Wins & Performances
At Appalachian State, Neuzil collected multiple all-conference selections and second-team All-American honors from outlets such as Sporting News and Pro Football Focus. At Braden River High School, he earned first-team all-district and all-area recognition at tight end while also serving as the team’s punter, a versatility that has followed him throughout his football career.
Ryan Neuzil Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Ryan Neuzil comes from a family with a notable athletic connection. His father, Jeff Neuzil, played in the Kansas City Royals baseball organization at the Triple-A level, showing that competitive sports were a familiar path in the household. That professional sports background helped shape Ryan’s approach to training and competition, and it offered him an early view of what a career in professional athletics can demand.
Personal Life
Neuzil grew up in Bradenton, Florida, and has remained connected to that community through his ongoing football career. Public details about his personal life beyond his family and football are limited, and he tends to keep his focus on the field rather than the spotlight. He has built his NFL career step by step, moving from undrafted free agent to a multi-year contract holder with the Atlanta Falcons.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for Ryan Neuzil after signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons on May 28, 2025. The deal, which runs through 2026, gives him long-term security and signals that the team expects him to remain a contributor on the offensive line. Coming off a 2024 season in which he played a regular role, Neuzil entered training camp looking to build on that consistency.
Throughout the early part of the 2025 campaign, Neuzil continued to work within Atlanta’s offensive line rotation, focused on technique and chemistry with his teammates. His versatility from his college days at Appalachian State, where he played both guard and center, gives the Falcons flexibility in how they deploy him along the interior. The team views him as a reliable piece of the offensive line picture.
Looking ahead, Neuzil’s main goals for the 2025 season are to stay healthy, contribute consistently, and help anchor the interior of the Falcons’ offensive line. With his contract now locked in, he has the stability to focus fully on his on-field performance. Atlanta’s investment in him suggests that the organization sees him as part of its plans beyond just one season, and he will look to repay that commitment with steady play.