Hall of Fame
Position: Halfback
Years: 1954-1956
Place of Birth: Roy, NM
Date of Birth: July 26, 1934
Place of Death: Audubon, PA
Date of Death: September 24, 2018
Jersey Number: 25
Height: 5-9
Weight: 169
High School: Roy, NM (Roy HS)\rAlbuquerque, NM (Highland HS)
A halfback at Oklahoma under Hall of Fame coach Bud Wilkinson, Tommy McDonald earned All-America honors in 1955 and 1956. He never experienced a loss with the Sooners, winning 31 straight games as part of Oklahoma's 47-game run.
McDonald scored touchdowns in 20-of-21 games during his junior and senior seasons, and in 1955, he became the first Sooner to score from scrimmage in every game. Wilkinson said McDonald's enthusiasm sparked a tremendous team spirit that made the other players always put forth a little extra.
In 1956, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting behind Paul Hornung of Notre Dame and Johnny Majors of Tennessee. McDonald was a two-time all-conference selection and was awarded the 1956 Maxwell Award and Sporting News Player of the Year award. He was also first team academic all-conference in 1955 and 1956.
Amid rumblings he was too small to play in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted McDonald in the third round in 1957. He played 12 NFL seasons for five teams, earned six Pro Bowl selections and helped the Eagles win the 1960 NFL championship. When McDonald retired in 1968, he ranked second in league history in touchdown catches and fourth in receiving yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
McDonald passed away Sept. 24, 2018, at the age of 84.
