Clifton McNeil
American football player (1939–2025)
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Clifton Anthony McNeil (May 25, 1939 – December 21, 2025) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) from 1964 through 1973. He played college football for the Grambling State Tigers[1] and was selected by the Cleveland Browns[2] in the eleventh round in the 1962 NFL draft. He played with the Browns for four seasons before being traded to the San Francisco 49ers in 1968 for a draft pick. McNeil acquired a number of nicknames on the field, including Sticks, Spider, Road Runner and Night Train, for his slim build and speed.[3]
Mobile, Alabama, U.S.
| No. 85, 18, 86 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | May 25, 1939 Mobile, Alabama, U.S. | ||||||||
| Died | December 21, 2025 (aged 86) | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College | Grambling State (1961-1962) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1962: 11th round, 151st overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
With the 49ers in 1968, he led the NFL in receptions with 71, accounting for 994 yards and seven touchdowns and was selected to the Pro Bowl. After a disappointing 1969 season he went to the New York Giants where he caught 50 passes for 764 yards and four touchdowns before finishing his career with the Washington Redskins and the Houston Oilers.
McNeil died on December 21, 2025, at the age of 86.[4]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won the Super Bowl | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1964 | CLE | 14 | 0 | 4 | 69 | 17.3 | 28 | 1 |
| 1965 | CLE | 13 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 23.0 | 32 | 0 |
| 1966 | CLE | 14 | 0 | 2 | 94 | 47.0 | 50 | 2 |
| 1967 | CLE | 2 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 11.0 | 23 | 2 |
| 1968 | SFO | 14 | 14 | 71 | 994 | 14.0 | 65 | 7 |
| 1969 | SFO | 11 | 7 | 17 | 255 | 15.0 | 80 | 3 |
| 1970 | NYG | 14 | 14 | 50 | 764 | 15.3 | 59 | 4 |
| 1971 | NYG | 6 | 6 | 16 | 209 | 13.1 | 24 | 1 |
| WAS | 8 | 1 | 14 | 244 | 17.4 | 36 | 2 | |
| 1972 | WAS | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1973 | HOU | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3.0 | 3 | 0 |
| 105 | 42 | 181 | 2,734 | 15.1 | 80 | 22 | ||
