How Eagles' Dallas Goedert and Vikings' Brian O'Neill, a Delaware native, became best friends

PHILADELPHIA – As soon as the Eagles' game had ended last Sunday, tight end Dallas Goedert sought out one of his best friends and gave him his jersey.

In return, Minnesota Vikings right tackle Brian O'Neill, the Salesianum School star, gave Goedert his jersey.

"This one's getting framed," Goedert said proudly.

Their story of friendship is rather circuitous.

After all, Goedert was raised in South Dakota and attended college at South Dakota State, a long way from O'Neill, who grew up in Delaware, then went to the University of Pittsburgh.

Both, however, signed with the same agency after their collegiate careers were finished and trained at the same facility getting ready for the NFL combine in the spring of 2018. They became good friends during those several weeks together.

Both were taken in the second round – Goedert at No. 49 overall by the Eagles and O'Neill at No. 62 by the Vikings.

"He was one of the first people that called me, as soon as I got drafted," Goedert said. "Shoot, he called me and talked to me even before he was drafted. We were like (13) picks apart. So right after he got drafted, I gave him the return and called him back."

They have kept in close touch since.

Goedert said they rented a house together in Newport Beach, California, from last February to April to train for the upcoming season. They worked out at the same facility, and shared a rental car.

During the season, Goedert lives in Philadelphia with cornerback Avonte Maddox, who was O'Neill's teammate at Pitt. Maddox said last year that O'Neill "is one of my closest friends."

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Goedert said it's a coincidence that he became good friends with Maddox after getting to know O'Neill.

Goedert said he has also had the opportunity to watch O'Neill play often because of their common opponents through the early part of the season.

"We’ve been lucky that they played Atlanta Week 1, and we played them Week 2," Goedert said. "They played Green Bay, then we played Green Bay. We had a lot of carryover games where we’ve watched the Vikings offense.

"So I’ve been able to watch him. He’s been playing at a really high level this year, which is incredible, obviously."

In fact, Goedert has been to Delaware on a few occasions during the offseason to hang out with O'Neill and his family. And O'Neill has met Goedert's family, although Goedert said O'Neill hasn't been to South Dakota yet.

"Still trying to get him out there," Goedert said. "We'll see. But it’s been an awesome friendship. He's a really great guy."

O'Neill is also 2-0 against Goedert and the Eagles. 

"We'll get another crack at them," Goedert said with a laugh.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.