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Tommy McDonald
File:2011 04 15Q 027 Tommy McDonald.jpg
Tommy McDonald signing autographs 2011 04 16 Oaks, PA
No. 25     
Flanker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1934-07-26) July 26, 1934 (age 89)
Place of birth: Roy, New Mexico
Career information
College: Oklahoma
NFL Draft: 1957 / Round: 3 / Pick: 31
Debuted in 1957 for the Philadelphia Eagles
Last played in 1968 for the Cleveland Browns
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 1968
Receptions     495
Receiving yards     8,410
Touchdowns     84
Stats at NFL.com
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Thomas Franklin McDonald (born July 26, 1934) is a former American football flanker in the National Football League. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns.

Early years[]

McDonald attended Roy High School in Roy, New Mexico, his freshman year, then moved to Albuquerque, where he graduated from Highland High School.

He excelled as a running back at the University of Oklahoma, where he was coached by the renowned Bud Wilkinson and never played in a losing game. He received the Maxwell Award in 1956 and was an All-American in 1955 and 1956.

Professional career[]

Philadelphia Eagles[]

McDonald was drafted in the third round of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. Over his 12-year career as a receiver, he helped lead the Eagles to a 1960 NFL Championship.

On March, 20, 1964, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for Sam Baker, John Meyers and Lynn Hoyem.[1]

Dallas Cowboys[]

The Dallas Cowboys switched him from flanker to split end, because the team already had an accomplished flanker in Franklin Clarke and split end Billy Howton had just retired. Looking to improve the receiving corps to help a young Don Meredith, they also traded with the Pittsburgh Steelers for Buddy Dial.

In his only season with the club, he registered 46 receptions for 612 yards (13.3 average) and 2 touchdowns (one of them against the Philadelphia Eagles). With the emergence of rookie Bob Hayes in 1965, he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for placekicker Danny Villanueva.[2]

Los Angeles Rams[]

McDonald recorded a career-high 67 passes for 1,036 yards and 9 touchdowns in 1965. He was selected to his last Pro Bowl. In 1967 he was traded to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a draft choice.[3]

Atlanta Falcons[]

He was waived on September 10, 1968, following a season with 33 receptions for 436 yards and 4 touchdowns.[4]

Cleveland Browns[]

On March 15, 1969, he announced his retirement after registering 7 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown in the previous season.[5]

He was selected for six Pro Bowls, led the league in touchdown receptions twice (1958, 1960), and led the league in receiving yards once (1960). McDonald was the last non-kicker to play in the NFL without a facemask.[6]

McDonald finished his career with 495 receptions for 8,410 yards and 84 touchdowns, the second highest total of touchdown receptions in NFL history at the time. He also rushed for 22 yards and gained 1,459 yards and a touchdown]] returning punts and kickoffs on special teams, giving him 9,891 career all-purpose yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

Personal life[]

He also dabbles in art. His portrait of Joe DiMaggio sold at auction for $4,000.[7]

References[]

External links[]


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