Kareem McNeal was born in Tuskegee, Alabama on November 8, 1972. He started playing high school football at the Alabama Christian Academy in Montgomery, Alabama.

After graduation, Kareem received a scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama with legendary head coach Gene Stallings. He played from 1991 – 1994 and proudly played as part of the 1992 National Championship team. During his junior year at Alabama he had the starting position at right tackle.

A career ending accident in July 1995 left Kareem paralyzed from the waist down. Determined to persevere, he went on to complete his undergraduate degree in Human Performance in 1996 and his master’s degree in 1999.

Since graduating from the University of Alabama, McNeal has enjoyed teaching weight training, personal health and stress management at Shelton State Community College. In 2001, Shelton State honored him with an endowed scholarship (The Kareem McNeal Scholarship) which gives scholarship money to either a high school student or a Shelton State student that has a disability.