Julian Neal, the Seahawks' rookie cornerback, made a memorable debut during his first practice, engaging with NFL legend Richard Sherman. Neal showcased his skills in press coverage while wearing jersey number 1.
Key points
Julian Neal is a rookie cornerback for the Seahawks.
He wore jersey number 1 during his first practice.
Richard Sherman interacted with Neal during the scrimmage.
Neal was in press coverage during the practice.
The practice took place at the Seahawks' rookie minicamp.
Mentioned in this story
Richard Sherman
Seattle SeahawksJulian Neal
On day one of his NFL life, Julian Neal came face to face, wits to wits, with a Seahawks and NFL legend.
Right in the middle of the rookieâs first practice in the league.
Early in 11-on-11 scrimmaging that began Seattleâs rookie minicamp Friday, Neal was in his new Seahawks jersey number 1, lined up at left cornerback. He was in press coverage opposite a young wide receiver near the sideline.
âHey, 1!â Neal heard a voice shout from nearby, along that sideline. âWhat are you looking at when you are in press?!â
The likely future Hall of Famer Sherman is now 38, retired from football and a television analyst for Amazon Primeâs Thursday night package of NFL games. He played a decade-plus ago as a charter member of Seattleâs famed âLegion of Boomâ secondary. Sherman still owns a home in Maple Valley. Heâs a frequent visitor to Seahawks headquarters, a 15-mile drive from that home.
He was a three-time All-Pro and won Seattleâs first Super Bowl at the end of the 2014 season playing the same position, left cornerback, on the same field in the same uniform the also long, tall, aggressive Neal was practicing at Friday.
The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Neal (one inch shorter and eight pounds heavier than Sherman) dutifully told the legend where he was looking. Told him during the play.
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Third-round NFL draft choice Julian Neal warming up with the cornerbacks at Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Renton.
Third-round NFL draft choice Julian Neal warming up with the cornerbacks at Seattle Seahawks rookie minicamp at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center, Friday, May 1, 2026, in Renton.
(Gregg Bell/The News Tribune)
Julian Nealâs strong hat game
Neal became an internet sensation last weekend for what he did after Seattle made him the 99th overall pick to end day two of the draft.
Moments after the Seahawks selected him behind their second-round pick safety Bud Clark from TCU that night, Neal got on a speakerphone call with The News Tribune and other Seattle-area reporters.
One of the first things the new rookie said on that call about joining the champs moments earlier: âWeâre goinâ back to back!â
And: âIâm the most physical corner in this draft class. ...I hit guys at the line. Itâs box time!â
Then KJR analyst and former NFL quarterback Hugh Millen asked Neal what coverage the cornerback preferred in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.
âPress!â Neal said, scoffing. âIâm going to go punch on somebody. Iâm going to go punch somebody at the line. Iâm in press. Iâm going to get all up in your face.â
Then Neal on Instagram â then the Seahawks all over their team social-media sites online â posted how it came to be that a Seahawks cap was the only one he had at his familyâs San Francisco home while he watched the second day of the NFL draft awaiting his selection.
âA certain company was supposed to send me all 32. Two days before draft day, my assistant texted me and said it wouldnât be there by the weekend,â Neal explained Friday.
He thought, âOK, I can either get a couple or can just get one.â
He thought of how well he thought his pre-draft, top-30 prospect visit went with Seattle.
âPlus, my auntie, 12 years a 12s fan.â
So he told her: âGo get me a Seahawks hat, Auntie. Just go get me a Seahawks hat. Thatâs all I need.â
Neal says that explains why he was so exuberant upon the Super Bowl champions calling him to end round three and drafting him as the second of their four defensive backs the Seahawks selected last weekend.
âSee, people donât understand thatâs why I was so juiced in my video,â Neal said Friday. âThatâs why I was so juiced, because it was, literally, anticipation. It really came true.â
Her auntâs reaction?
âShe was juiced. Turnt!â he said. âI canât explain it. It was a different kind of feeling.
âAlso, I knew this was going to be the perfect place to display my talent.â
Why did he know that?
Julian Nealâs predraft Seahawks connections
Neal had his pre-draft visit with coach Mike Macdonald and his staff at Seahawks headquarters in Renton this spring.
He also had what he thought was a positive, formal interview with Seattleâs coaches at the leagueâs scouting combine in Indianapolis February into March.
Plus: Neal practiced the Seahawks drills and schemes last season at Arkansas.
His secondary coach last season with the Razorbacks was Nick Perry. Perry was on Macdonaldâs first Seahawks coaching staff in 2024, as a defensive assistant working mostly with the...secondary. Perry had told Neal as a recruiting pitch to get him from his four years at Fresno State through college footballâs transfer portal that if he came to Arkansas the coach would put him through with Razorbacks in 2025 Macdonaldâs Seattle Seahawks drills, techniques and system of playing cornerback. Thatâs press coverage. Aggressive run support and tackling by cornerbacks. Versatility to play outside as a boundary corner and as a nickel, slot cover man inside.
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Julian Neal #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tips a pass in the end zone in the second half that was thrown to KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 45-42. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS - OCTOBER 18: Julian Neal #23 of the Arkansas Razorbacks tips a pass in the end zone in the second half that was thrown to KC Concepcion #7 of the Texas A&M Aggies at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium on October 18, 2025 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Aggies defeated the Razorbacks 45-42. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
âLiterally, since day one when I went on my visit (to Fayetteville, Arkansas, before his final college season) he told me, âYeah, if you come here, I know the coaches on the Seahawks. They all do the same that we do,ââ Neal said.
âMy formal visit at the combine, I was telling them everything they did. After that, we just had so much chemistry,