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Wide receiver Tommy McDonald was a
third-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1957. An
All-America choice at Oklahoma, he won the Maxwell Award in 1956 as
college football’s player of the year. During his three years of varsity
play at Oklahoma, the Sooners never lost a game.
A six-time Pro Bowl selection (1959-1963 and 1966),
McDonald played seven seasons with the Eagles (1957-1963), one with the
Dallas Cowboys (1964), two with the Los Angeles Rams (1965-1966), and
one each with the Atlanta Falcons (1967) and the Cleveland Browns
(1968).
Although he was just 5-9 and 176 pounds, McDonald was
extremely durable and missed only three games in his first 11 seasons.
He had elusive speed and used his running skills brilliantly after
making his catches, finishing his career with an average of 17 yards per
catch and 84 touchdowns.
A sure-handed receiver, McDonald had few peers when it
came to putting the ball in the end zone. In the years 1958-62, he had
56 touchdown receptions in 63 games, including a 35-yard touchdown
reception from quarterback Norm Van Brocklin in the 1960 NFL
Championship Game in which the Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers
17-13.
His career ratio of touchdowns-to-receptions is an
impressive 1 in 5.9. He also caught at least one pass in 93 consecutive
games. Used primarily as a kickoff and punt-return specialist during his
rookie season, McDonald ranked sixth all-time in receptions (495),
fourth in yards receiving (8,410) and second in touchdown catches (84)
when he retired following the 1968 season.
McDonald, who was born in Roy,
New Mexico, had an outstanding season in 1961. Not only did he lead the
NFL in reception yardage (1,144) and in touchdowns (13), but in a game
against the New York Giants he caught seven passes for 237 yards and two
touchdowns, which is still an Eagles’ single-game best. |
1957-1963
Philadelphia Eagles,
1964
Dallas Cowboys, 
1965-1966
Los Angeles Rams, 
1967
Atlanta Falcons, 
1968
Cleveland Browns