FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Ryan Neuzil earned his role as a starter the hard way.
That's how fellow Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Chris Lindstrom described Neuzil's path to first-team center.
Lindstrom has plenty of reasons to make that observation. Neuzil joined the Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2021, starting his journey on the practice squad and slowly adding responsibilities each year. Meanwhile, Lindstrom was a first-round draft pick who has only ever been a starter.
"Whatever was asked of him for four years, he always did it and got better every single day," Lindstrom said. "Then, every moment he got the chance to prove himself on the field, he did that."
Neuzil signed a two-year deal to remain in Atlanta shortly after the team began OTAs, a testament to the impression he's made on the franchise. It was an upgrade from the one-year contract that accompanied the right-of-first-refusal tender the Falcons originally placed on Neuzil as a restricted free agent. The two parties were able to negotiate something more for Neuzil.
Though pen did not hit paper until late May, the Falcons have been penciling Neuzil in as their starting center since Drew Dalman, last year's starting center, signed with the Chicago Bears as a free agent in March. The confidence for that proclamation breeds from the eight starts Neuzil made when Dalman was injured last season.
"He played really, really well for us," Falcons offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford said. "I thought that he played at a high level. So, to me, that was great to be able to see him in that sample size."
Nothing replaces game reps. They're the most important and will ultimately carry the greatest amount of weight in player evaluations. Prior to last season, Neuzil's count was very limited compared to Dalman, a former fourth-round pick who established himself as the starter in 2022.
Neuzil made his professional debut in the Falcons' Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, but only played on special teams. He took his first-ever offensive snaps — five total — in the Falcons' Week 18 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that year. He was a guard at the time.
Neuzil made his starting debut in the Falcons' Week 6 loss to the Washington Commanders, but as a sixth lineman in a jumbo package. He took four offensive snaps. His first start at center was in the Falcons' Week 14 loss to the Buccaneers that year. He ultimately started three games there in 2023.
Then, of course, there were the eight starts and personal-high 577 offensive snaps in 2024.
"Honestly," Neuzil said, "it was like a slow drip into my process."
The fact Neuzil allowed his bucket to fill that way came as no surprise to those who know him best.
"That's Ryan Neuzil," Ledford said. "I recruited him in college when he was coming to Appalachian State. Ryan wants to go out and work. He's about being out there with the guys. He's about just wanting to continue to learn, continue to grow as a player. He's a guy that's going to roll up his sleeves and go to work every day."
Neuzil did that even when his future in Atlanta wasn't inked. He was an active participant in the Falcons' offseason program before last week's announcement. He showed up — like he always has.
Maybe saying Neuzil took the hard way in his career isn't fair. But saying he put in the hard work is more than justified.
"He was given opportunities through unfortunate circumstances, and he did phenomenal," Lindstrom said. "He earned the trust of everybody. He already had it from us up front."
