Timmy O'Neill

Timmy O’Neill is an author, speaker, and a natural gas trader at Sequent Energy in Houston, Texas. Widely recognized for his book, “Every Play Every Day: My Life as a Notre Dame Walk-On,” O’Neill made history as the shortest player to carry the ball in a game for the University of Notre Dame. His journey from walk-on to earning a full scholarship is a powerful testament to his resilience and unwavering determination. As a junior, he received the rare honor of being elected by his teammates to the Notre Dame Football Leadership Council—an exceptional achievement for a walk-on player. He also had the distinction of playing in the Japan Bowl in Tokyo, a showcase featuring former Notre Dame players and coached by the legendary Lou Holtz.

O’Neill’s story is a compelling blend of perseverance, athletic achievement, and professional success. He speaks passionately about his journey and the powerful lessons in discipline and determination he learned at Notre Dame. After sharing his story with children in kindergarten through fifth grade, he recognized a need to make his message more accessible to younger audiences. This inspired him to write "Tiny Tim’s Notre Dame Football Dream," a children’s book that went on to win the Mom's Choice Award.

He graduated from Notre Dame with a major in finance and a minor in theology and received his Master of Business Administration from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).