The quarterback of the 1978 National Champion USC football team, Paul McDonald led the Pac-10 in passing yards (1,667) and tied a USC record with 19 touchdown passes that year. Named a First Team All-America and All-Pac 10 selection, he was named the Player of the Game vs. Notre Dame after leading the game-winning drive capped by Frank Jordan’s game-winning field goal. In 1978, McDonald led the NCAA in pass efficiency with a rating of 152.8.
The team MVP of the 1979 season, McDonald led the team in passing yards (2,223) and total offensive yards (2,149), and he finished sixth in the 1979 Heisman Trophy voting. A Hula Bowl selection, he received the Gloomy Gus Henderson Award for playing the most minutes. McDonald ranks 10th in school history in career passing yards (4,138) and 14th in total offensive yards (3,877). He helped the Trojans to a 31-5-1 record, two Pac-10 titles and two Rose Bowl victories under College Football Hall of Fame head coach John Robinson.
In 1978, McDonald also received the Football Alumni Club Award as the letterman with the highest GPA, compiling a 3.7 GPA in business administration. A two-time Academic All-American, he was on the Dean’s List six semesters and the Pac-10 Honor Roll three years. McDonald was active in the Blue Key Club and the Blackstonians.
He was selected in the fourth round (109th overall) of the 1980 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. McDonald played six seasons with the Browns, serving as the team’s starter in 1984. He completed 271-of-493 passes for 3,472 yards and 14 touchdowns that year. In 1984, McDonald ranked in the top-10 of the NFL in passes completed, pass attempts and passing yards. He played two more seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring from the NFL. McDonald finished his career with 411-of-767 passes completed for 5,269 yards and 24 touchdowns.
McDonald began a successful career in the business world as an investment professional working as a Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank and a Financial Consultant for Merrill Lynch. He is now Senior Vice President at Fidelity National Title Insurance Company working with residential and commercial clients nationally, in addition to having an ownership interest in Innovative Marketing Connections, a closely held California Limited Liability Corporation. McDonald also served as expert analyst for USC football televised broadcasts during the 1991 season, and from 1992-95, co-hosted a college football show airing on many ABC affiliate stations called Pac-10 Preview.
He is in his 14th year as the radio analyst for USC football broadcasts, receiving the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Radio Color Commentary Award three of the last six years. In 2005, he received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award.
