NFL, Pro Football HoF

McDonald, Tommy (1934-2018)

CARD: Upper Deck Legends Certified 1997
ACQUIRED: eBay, 2022

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Tommy McDonald played collegially at Oklahoma from 1954 to ’56 as a halfback.
  • Over his time there he ran for 1683 yards on 249 carries scoring 27 times, as well as catching 20 passes for 414 yards and 6 TDs.
  • 3rd round pick of the 1957 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
  • Played 7 seasons for the Eagles, leading the NFL in TDs in both ’58 (9) and ’61 (13).
  • In 1958 he caught 29 passes for 603 yards and a 91 yard long.
  • From 1958-1962 caught double digit TDs in every season, with 13 in both 1960 and ’61.
  • Broke the 1,000 yard barrier 3 times in his career: 1961 (1144), 1962 (1146) and later after he joined the Rams in 1965 (1036).
  • After being traded for three players, played the ’64 season with the Dallas Cowboys.
  • Traded to the Rams in exchange for a kicker in 1965, playing there through ’66.
  • Then in ’67 was traded to the Falcons and then signed with the Browns in ’68 before closing out his career.
  • Played WR, FL, and RHB over 12 seasons.

ACCOLADES:

  • Pro Bowl 1958-’62, ’65
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame 1998
  • National High School Hall of Fame
  • Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
  • Philadelphia Hall of Fame
  • Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame
  • New Mexico Hall of Fame
  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • 1956 Maxwell Award
  • Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team

NOTES:

At the time of his retirement in ’69 McDonald was the last player to play without a facemask. He became an ambassador to the sport and of the Philadelphia Eagles- which makes this card seem all the more odd since he only played two seasons with the Rams. After his passing he was diagnosed with CTE.

EPITAPH:

9/24/2018- Tommy McDonald passed away peacefully surrounded by family at the age of 84.

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