Ray Seals

For the boxer, see Sugar Ray Seales.

Ray Seals
No. 98, 97, 99
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1965-06-17) June 17, 1965 (age 59)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:293 lb (133 kg)
Career information
High school:Syracuse (NY) Henninger
Career history
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Raymond Bernard Seals (born June 17, 1965) is an American former professional football defensive end in the NFL. He is famous for not having attended college, a rarity in the NFL. Ray lettered in football at Anthony A. Henninger High School along with Joseph Saya in Syracuse, New York. Seals started in Super Bowl XXX as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers.[1]

Ray Seals went from playing for the minor-league Syracuse Express of the Empire Football League to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1989. He went to the Steelers in 1994 as a free agent and played two seasons as their starting right defensive end. He was injured in 1996, his third season with the Steelers, and finished with Carolina in 1997.

Seals is famous for batting away a pass by then rookie quarterback Brett Favre, only to have it be caught by Favre, himself, for the first completion in his long and storied career.[2]

Ray Seals was inducted into the American Football Association's Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992.[3][4] Seals's cousin, Jonny Gammage, was killed after a traffic stop by Pittsburgh Police officers in 1995.[5][6]

  1. ^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: FOOTBALL; Steelers Add Ex-Buccaneer". The New York Times. March 18, 1994. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ray Seals once again fails to hear the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame call his name". Syracuse.com. July 13, 2015. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  3. ^ Jeff.Hartman (August 20, 2016). "How former Steelers DE Ray Seals made it to the NFL without playing college football". Behind the Steel Curtain. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  4. ^ "Ray Seals goes from doorman to Super Bowl to Hall of Fame". syracuse. June 8, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  5. ^ "Death of Football Player's Cousin Raises Cry of Racism : Police: Pittsburgh Steeler's relative died after struggle with white officers. Charges are weighed amid protests". Los Angeles Times. November 16, 1995. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  6. ^ Ap (November 5, 1995). "5 Police Officers in Pittsburgh Facing Charges in Beating Death". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 3, 2021.