Kevin O’Neill came to BGSU as a walk-on, and ended his career ranked second in school history in career tackles, with 462. He was a Dick Butkus Award candidate as both a junior in 1996 and a senior in ‘97. O’Neill was a team captain in both of those seasons, and was also an All-MAC First-Team selection in both 1996 and ‘97.
O’Neill was a scout-team linebacker in 1993, before starting the final three games of the year in 1994. He finished third on the squad in tackles that year. O’Neill would lead the team in tackles in each of his final three seasons. In 1995, the sophomore had 134 tackles, ranking second in the MAC, and he was fourth in the conference in tackles for loss. He had 18 tackles in that season’s Toledo game, and 14 or more stops in five other games.
As a junior in 1996, he had 120 tackles, 40 more than any other BGSU player. He finished seventh in the MAC in tackles (10.9 per game) and second in tackles for loss (23) that season, en route to his first all-conference first-team accolade.
O’Neill again was named to the all-league first team in 1997 after leading the Falcons and tying for second in the MAC with 133 tackles (12.1 per game). He had 15 tackles for loss that fall, tying for sixth (with his brother, Joe) in the MAC. O’Neill was the team MVP in ‘97, and also earned the team’s President’s Award that year.
His career total of 462 tackles still ranks second in BGSU history, and he is currently tied for ninth in career sacks, with 13. In addition to earning All-MAC First-Team honors, O’Neill was also named to the Academic All-MAC team in both 1996 and ‘97.
He signed with the NFL’s Detroit Lions in 1998, and was one of only two undrafted free agents to make the roster that year. O’Neill was on the active roster for the Lions from 1998-2000, and was the special teams captain in 2000.
