Neal Petties
 Neal Petties in 1967 | |||||||||||
| No. 84 | |||||||||||
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| Position: | End | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born: | September 16, 1940 San Diego, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died: | June 9, 2023 (aged 82) National City, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 198 lb (90 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | San Diego (San Diego, CA) | ||||||||||
| College: | San Diego State | ||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1963: 14th round, 187th pick | ||||||||||
| AFL draft: | 1963: 21st round, 161st pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Cornelius "Neal" Petties (September 16, 1940 – June 6, 2023) was an American football end. He played for the Baltimore Colts from 1964 to 1966.
College career
Petties played wide receiver for the Don Coryell's San Diego State Aztecs from 1961-63. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards all three seasons and amassing 63 catches for 1,274 yards and 13 touchdowns.[1] Pettis was a three-time all-California Collegiate Athletic Association honoree and as senior was a third-team little college Associated Press All-American. Petties played defense for the Aztecs, as well, recording seven interceptions. In 2006, Petties was inducted into the San Diego State Athletics Hall of Fame.[2]
Professional career
Petties was selected in the 14th round (187 overall) by the Baltimore Colts in the 1963 NFL draft and in the 21st round (161st overall) by the Oakland Raiders in 1963 AFL draft. He played three seasons with the Colts from 1964-66, mainly on special teams. As a rookie, in 1964, he caught his only two NFL passes, including a touchdown reception from Tom Matte in the fourth quarter of the Colts 45-17 victory over the Washington Redskins.[3]
Petties was selected in the 1966 NFL expansion draft by the Atlanta Falcons, but an injury led to Atlanta letting his go and he rejoined the Colts for the 1966 season.[3]
In 1968, Petties played a season in Continental Football League for the Las Vegas Cowboys.[4]
After football
Following his football career worked for the city of San Diego for 25 years in the Park and Recreation Department as Director of Mountain View Park and part-time security for the Palisade Skating Rink. After retiring from the city, Neal went on to work for the San Diego Port District, and later as a job coach for the mentally challenged.[5]
Petties died on June 6, 2023, at the age of 82.[5] In July 2023, the city of San Diego renamed Mountain View Park as Neal Petties Mountain View Community Park.[6]
References
- ^ "Aztec Hall of Famer Neal Petties helped get Coryell era off ground, became community leader". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2023-06-24. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ "Neal Petties - Hall of Fame". San Diego State Aztecs. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
- ^ a b Colts 1967 Media Guide (Baltimore).
- ^ "1968 Las Vegas Cowboys (WFL/COFL) Scores, Roster, Stats, Coaches". profootballarchives.com. Retrieved 2025-08-05.
- ^ a b "Obituary". Tribute Archive. Retrieved 17 August 2023.
- ^ Keatts, Andrew (2024-02-09). "Neal Petties Mountain View Community Park: The story behind the name". Axios. Retrieved 2025-08-05.