There is no way for Rayseal to the NFL. However, the former semi-pro footballer has reached the highest level of professional soccer.
This week marks the end of the seal's life journey. Social media users Nini Marie and Syracuse.com have confirmed the death of Seals. He was 59 years old.
His cause of death was not released immediately.
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Rayseal during a match against the Philadelphia Eagles at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh on December 11, 1994. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The seal's soccer story began at Henning High School in Syracuse, New York. Instead of making a leap into the ranks of college football, the seal's journey took him to the semi-pro.
Shields high school coach Bob Campes remembered the former defensive lineman as a “happy” person.
The Saints announced the death of longtime equipment manager Dan Simmons: “He's going to be overlooked a lot.”
“(He's) happy go-lucky, big, kind, kind person, maybe as good or even better than the athletes that came out of here.” “We had some good things, but Ray might have been on top.”
The Ray Shields, a former defensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers, during a half-time presentation honoring the former player during a game between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears at Heinzfield in Pittsburgh on September 22, 2013. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Although he has never played snaps in college football, the Shields signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988. By 1991 he was consistently involved in Bucs' starting lineup. He also had a stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.
According to the Bio provided by Hall, Seal was induced to be inducted into the Syracuse Hall of Fame in 2016.
Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Rayseal during a match against the Philadelphia Eagles at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh on December 11, 1994. (George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
The Shields began performing at the Semi-Prosyracuse Express in 1987.
Ray Perkins, who coached for Alabama before leaving to accept the head coaching job with the Buccaneers, is largely believed to have given Seal the opportunity to play in the NFL.
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“We were all behind him. We were cheering for him, you couldn't believe it. “I didn't doubt in my heart that he was enough to play in the NFL, which means we all knew that.
“Because he didn't graduate from college at the time. You don't just step into the professional team and make it.”
The Shields, who played for the Steelers from 1994 to 95, recorded bags at the Super Bowl at the end of the 1995 season.
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