Undrafted.Waived four times.Then seven NFL seasons.
Now he's coaching the area's next generation of defenders.
Ryan Neal played seven NFL seasons on defense with the Seahawks and Buccaneers.
Now he's starting Ryno Movement Lab, movement, linebacker and defensive back training for grades 5 through 12 in southern Hillsborough County, Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch. He teaches young athletes to move efficiently, play their position the right way, and carry themselves like the teammate every coach wants.
Ryan's NFL career, 2018 to 2024
Seven NFL seasons with the Eagles, Falcons, Seahawks and Buccaneers. Primarily a safety, with snaps at corner, in dime packages, and at linebacker for Tampa Bay in 2023. Now a speed coach at Positive Sports Lab.
In 2022, Pro Football Focus ranked him the No. 1 safety in the NFL and named him to its first-team All-Pro team.
It's not just athleticism, it's the smarts and his attitude and his character.Pete Carroll, Seahawks head coach, 2020. Via Sports Illustrated.
Explore Ryno Movement Lab
Better athletes. Better players. Better young men.
Every session builds three things at once. Position drills alone won't make a player faster, and speed alone won't make him a player coaches trust.
Move efficiently
The same change-of-direction work used to prepare NFL draft prospects, scaled to each age.
- First step and acceleration
- Stopping and changing direction without wasted steps
- Pro agility shuttle and three-cone
- Hip mobility, balance and body control
Play the position
Linebacker and DB technique from someone who played both in the NFL.
- Linebackers: reads, run fits, block shedding, pursuit angles and zone drops
- DBs: backpedal, press and off-man, transitions and breaks
- Everyone: eyes, tackling form and ball skills
Build the man
Talent gets you noticed, but character is what carries you. It's one of the most underrated qualities in sports. This training isn't about building pro players. It's about building great young men through the vehicle of football.
Because one day the pads come off, and the man is what's left.
- Effort on every rep, watched or not
- Being coachable and owning mistakes
- Putting teammates first
- Bouncing back from a bad play, a bad game or a setback
Ready to move well and play well?
One program. The same standard from day one.
Every athlete works on the same three things, every session, for as long as they train with Ryan. The work never changes. The level it's done at keeps rising.
Master the basics
Stance, footwork, eyes and tackling form, repeated until they hold up at game speed.
Master movement
Starting, stopping and changing direction efficiently, with the same mechanics used to prepare NFL draft prospects.
Master the craft
Linebacker and DB technique, reading offenses and finishing plays on the ball.
Two age groups
Athletes train with kids their own age and size, so everyone competes at the right level.
Grades 5–8
Middle school athletes, including kids brand new to defense.
Grades 9–12
High school athletes working toward varsity snaps and college interest.
Same standard, every session.
The kid nobody drafted.
Ryan grew up in northwest Indiana, played at Merrillville High School, and went on to Southern Illinois, an FCS program. He wasn't invited to the NFL Combine, went undrafted, and was waived four times before he stuck.
In 2020 he nearly walked away from the game. He stayed, and weeks later sealed a win over Dallas with an end-zone interception. By 2022 he was Pro Football Focus's highest-graded safety in the NFL. Along the way he learned from greats like Kam Chancellor, who broke down his film before his first start.
Today Ryan coaches speed at Positive Sports Lab and trains young linebackers and DBs in the Tampa Bay area. He teaches the game the way he wishes someone had taught him at 12: move well, learn the position the right way, and let your work and your character speak for you.
The standard he coaches to
Every session teaches the same four values that defined Ryan's career, in his words and in the words of the coaches and teammates who saw them up close.
Stay ready
You just never know when it's your moment, so always stay ready and always stay working.Ryan Neal, after his game-winning interception against Dallas in 2020, weeks after nearly quitting. Via Sports Illustrated.
Play through it
He's shown us the grit of a Seahawk… He said, ‘I can play, I'm playing,’ and he couldn't run all week long.Pete Carroll, after Ryan played every snap on an injured knee in 2022. Via Sports Illustrated.
Put the team first
He's a tough guy, he's a smart guy, and more importantly, he is a team guy. He'll do whatever it takes for the team to win.Todd Bowles, after Ryan moved to linebacker on short notice in 2023. Via Buccaneers.com.
Keep learning
I think the biggest thing is his eagerness to learn. Even though he was on the practice squad last year, he was trying to make plays at practice. And that's always a sign of a guy that is going to be around a long time.Bobby Wagner, Seahawks linebacker and defensive captain, 2020. Via The Seattle Times.
Quotes are from published press coverage of Ryan's playing career and are not endorsements of this program.
Train with a coach who lived it.
Pricing
Every session is 60 minutes and coached by Ryan.
Small-group session
- Small groups organized by grade and level
- Movement, position work, tackling and competition
Private session
- One-on-one work built around your athlete's goals
- Film review and college camp prep for high schoolers
Estimate your training cost
Pick a session type and schedule to see your total. Package savings are applied automatically.
Pick a session and get started.
Where Ryan trains
Choose the area closer to you when you book.
Southern Hillsborough County
Summerfield Sports Complex
Training days: Sundays at 11 a.m.
Sarasota County and Manatee County
Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch
Training site shared when you book.
Training days: Tuesdays and Saturdays
Find the session closest to you.
Frequently asked questions from parents
What ages and positions do you train?
Linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties in 5th through 12th grade. Groups are organized by grade and experience, and linebackers and DBs split up for position work.
Ryan played safety. Why train linebackers?
The back seven plays together. Ryan started at safety, lined up at corner and in dime packages, and played linebacker for the Buccaneers in 2023 after only a walk-through to prepare. "Ryan is a smart dude, so it was easy working with him. He picked everything up pretty easy," said Larry Foote, the Bucs' linebacker coach at the time. The footwork, reads and tackling that make a good linebacker overlap heavily with what makes a good safety.
Why so much speed and agility work?
The fastest defenders don't just run fast. They stop, turn and start again without wasted steps. Ryan coaches speed every day and uses the same movement work that prepares NFL draft prospects, scaled to each age.
Does my child need experience?
No. Every athlete starts with the same basics, and the grades 5–8 group is a great place for kids who are new to defense or new to football.
Can my athlete train during the football season?
Yes. Many athletes train most in the off-season and summer, then keep a lighter weekly session during the season. Ryan will help you pick a schedule that fits around team practice.
What should my athlete bring?
Cleats, athletic clothes and a full water bottle.
Book your athlete's training session
Ready to get started? Choose your training session, select an available time, and book directly online.