Neil O'Donoghue

Cornelius Joseph Dennis O'Donoghue (born 18 January 1953) is an Irish-born former professional football placekicker, who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Auburn Tigers and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the St. Louis Cardinals.

From 1987 to 2023, until Daniel Whelan was selected as punter for the Green Bay Packers, O'Donoghue had been the most recent Irish-born American to have played in the NFL. At 6 ft 6 inches, he is the tallest kicker in NFL history.

Early life O'Donoghue was born on 18 January 1953 in Dublin, the second son of Michael and Mary O'Donoghue (née Horgan). He was named after his maternal uncle, a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died fighting in the Second World War.

Association football O'Donoghue began his soccer career with Drumcondra. At the time, he was known as Con O'Donoghue, a homage to Con Martin, who had also played for the Drums. On 17 October 1971, O'Donoghue made his debut for Shamrock Rovers against Sligo Rovers, coming on as a substitute for Damien Richardson. On 31 October, and in his second game for the Hoops, he scored his first goal at Glenmalure Park against Limerick. He made a total of 16 appearances, including two each in the Texaco Cup and the FAI Cup, scoring 3 goals.

O'Donoghue's brother Coli spent the summer of 1970 in Alabama and played soccer on the weekends. He was offered a soccer scholarship at Saint Bernard College, but declined as he was studying architecture in Ireland. However, he did suggest that O'Donoghue should take the scholarship instead. O'Donoghue was working part-time for CIÉ as a ticket inspector, During this time, he was briefly on the same team with Jimmy Johnstone. He had previously been to Auburn before, attending as a spectator for the Iron Bowl match. Jordan had him make a field goal attempt, and after he converted each one successfully, he won the job.

O'Donoghue was selected in the fifth round of the 1977 NFL draft by the Buffalo Bills, but was cut five games into the 1977 season, despite ending a fourteen game losing streak by scoring the sole field goal against the Atlanta Falcons. effectively sending the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. Neither side were able to score a touchdown, but the Bucs were blown out 9–0, with the Rams' Frank Corral making all three field goals. Head coach Jim Hanifan had O'Donoghue and Steve Little, a former first-round pick who had struggled in the NFL, participate in a kicking contest from 25 yards out. Little made nine out of 16 attempts, while O'Donoghue made fourteen, resulting in him becoming the team's starting kicker.

Even though he had the support of Hanifan, he ultimately became known for his high-profile missed kicks. In the 1983 season, he missed three field goal attempts in overtime of a Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants, resulting in a 20–20 tie. In the last game of the 1984 season against the Redskins, he missed a potential game-winning kick that would have sent his Cardinals to the playoffs. During that season, O'Donoghue tied the long-standing Cardinals record for most points in a season, which at the time was 117. In the 1985 season, he was cut after missing three attempts against the Houston Oilers. After his career in the NFL, O'Donoghue sold real estate for a few years, then got into car sales.

Personal life O'Donoghue married his first wife Laura, during his stint with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They lived in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida, and had one daughter, Daeja. They divorced in the late 1980s. He remarried shortly after to his second wife Monica, and currently resides in Clearwater, Florida. They have two children, Neil Jr. and Courtney. His son works in the film industry under the stage name Cornelius O'Donoghue.

O'Donoghue was the only member of his family to emigrate to the United States and become an American citizen. His older brother, Coli, is a partner at an architectural firm based out of Dublin.