The San Diego Chargers said Tuesday that franchise all-time sack leader Leslie O’Neal will become the 37th member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
The defensive end, who brought down opposing quarterbacks 105 1/2 times while playing nine seasons in San Diego, will be inducted on Oct. 19 at halftime of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs. A defender is credited with half a sack if more than one player takes down a passer.
At a news conference, O’Neal named a large number of the former stars already honored in the team’s Hall of Fame and said, “It’s a great honor that you put me in the same class as these guys.”
O’Neal was drafted eighth overall out of Oklahoma State in 1986 and, even though he tore knee ligaments near the end of that season, was named the National Football League’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
He missed the next two seasons, but came back to record 26 sacks combined in 1989 and 1990. He then became a vital part of two noteworthy Charger seasons.
The six-time pro bowler had 17 sacks in 1992, when the Chargers won their first AFC West title in nine years. He had 12 1/2 in 1994, when the Bolts made their only Super Bowl appearance, when they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
“He was one of the most dominant players in the league during his tenure in San Diego,” said Chargers CEO A.G. Spanos. “Leslie was a play-maker on defense, one of those players our opponent had to account for on every play.”
O’Neal said he now splits his time between living in San Diego and Arkansas. He plays a lot of golf and recently became a grandfather.
– City News Service
