From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
|
|high_school=Michigan Military Academy |
|high_school=Michigan Military Academy |
||
|
|college= |
|college= |
||
|
* |
* [[32nd Infantry Division (United States)|32nd Infantry Division]] (1918) |
||
|
* [[Phillips Haymakers football|Phillips]] (1919) |
* [[Phillips Haymakers football|Phillips]] (1919) |
||
|
* [[Chillicothe Business College]] (1920) |
* [[Chillicothe Business College]] (1920) |
||
Revision as of 15:37, 3 February 2026
American football player (1898–1928)
Charles Leo O’Neil (March 25, 1898 – June 20, 1928) was an American football player. He played military service football for the 32nd Infantry Division football team in 1918, college football for the Phillips Haymakers in 1919 and for Chillicothe Business College in 1920, and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Evansville Crimson Giants (1921–1922) and Toledo Maroons (1922–1923).
Early years and military service
O’Neil was born in 1898[1] or 1900[2] in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served in the 32nd Infantry Division (Les Terrible) during World War I. He spent more than 15 months in France. While in the Army, he played for the 32nd Divison football team that was the runner-up in the American Expeditionary Forces finals.[3]
O’Neil played college football for the Phillips Haymakers.[2] He played at the end position for the 1919 Phillips Haymakers football team that compiled an undefeated 10–0–1 record. He was described as one of “the most interesting and promising men” on the Phillips team and “a whiz at snagging passes and breaking up interference, in fact all that a good end should be.”[3]
In 1920, O’Neil tranferred to Chillicothe Business College and was elected captain or its football team. He was described by a Chillicothe newspaper as “one of the strongest players on the squad” and “one of the most popular studentss in the school”[4]
In September 1921, O’Neil tried out with the Evansville Crimson Giants of the National Football League (NFL).[5] He made the team, playing at the right end position. He was described by The Evansville Journal in October 1921 as” “Irish, and the fleetest right end in the business. Watch him grab those forward passes.”[6]
O’Neil began the 1922 season with Evansville but finished the season with the Toledo Maroons. He played for Toledo in 1922 and 1923. Over three NFL seasons, O’Neil appeared in nine games, six as a starter.[2][1]
Death
O’Neil died in June 1928 in New Mexico.[1] His body was returned to Ann Arbor for burial.[7][8]
