Today’s card of the day is a 1973 Topps card of Steve O’Neal. O’Neal was a punter for five seasons in the AFL and NFL: from 1969 to 1972 for the New York Jets, and in 1973 for the New Orleans Saints. He played college football at Texas A&M.
In 1969, in just his second professional game, O’Neal had a 98-yard punt against the Denver Broncos. You can see a video of the punt on the Jets’ web site. The punt set an AFL record, and, since AFL stats are included in the NFL record book, it became the NFL record when the leagues merged in 1970. It remains the NFL record–by five yards.
O’Neal’s 1973 Topps card is his rookie card. The card shows him with the Jets, but the Jets traded him to the Saints in June of 1973. He also appeared on a 1974 Topps card with the Saints, but he did not play in 1974.
