Steve Neal enters his 10th season on the Lions' player personnel staff and eighth as an Area Scout after serving as the team's BLESTO scout in 2016 and a scouting department intern in 2015.
Before Detroit, Neal spent six years as a wide receivers coach for Wayne State, mentoring numerous Academic All-GLIAC student-athletes and helping the 2011 squad reach the NCAA Division II National Championship. While at WSU, Neal coached standout receiver Troy Burrell (2007-2011), helping him earn Second Team All-American honors in 2011, recruited the 2008 GLIAC Freshman of the Year (QB Kevin Smith), and also served as the lead coach for the nation's best kickoff return team in 2008.
In 2014, Neal served as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator at Adams State University. Neal also was an intern with the San Francisco 49ers (2013) serving as a wide receivers coach and served as the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Savannah State University (2006) and the wide receivers coach at Saint Joseph's (Ind.) in the spring of 2006.
During his playing career, Neal was a four-year starter (1996-2000) at wide receiver for Western Michigan University, earning First Team All-Mid-American Conference accolades three times and was named to the Broncos' All-Century Team.
Neal graduated from Western Michigan with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice before going on to sign a rookie free-agent contract with the Tennessee Titans in 2001. In 2001 and 2002, he attended camps and workouts with the Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
