Philadelphia Eagles: 30 greatest players in franchise history

Tommy McDonald was one of the best receiving talents of his generation. The former standout at the University of Oklahoma would end up being a third-round pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1957 NFL Draft. McDonald would spend his first seven of 12 hall of fame seasons with The Birds. His best years would obviously come with the Eagles.

McDonald had already won two national titles with the Sooners in college. He was an All-American in 1966 and won the coveted Maxwell Award that same years as well. There is nod doubt why McDonald is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. But that wasn’t the end of McDonald’s gridiron excellence by a long shot. He might very well be the greatest Eagles receiver of all-time.

McDonald made six trips to the Pro Bowl in his NFL career. The first five came in succession while with the Eagles from 1958 to 1962. McDonald was an All-Pro first teamer in 1959 and in 1960 when the Eagles won the NFL Championship. In 1961, he led the league in receiving yards at 1,144 and touchdowns with 13. However, he would be traded to the rival Dallas Cowboys in 1964. From then on, McDonald was a journeyman, never sticking anywhere for more than two years.

He did make his sixth trip to the Pro Bowl as a member of the Los Angeles Rams in his first year with the club in 1965. McDonald would play with the Rams for two seasons, the Atlanta Falcons in 1967 and the Cleveland Browns in 1968 before retiring. In 1998, McDonald finally earned Canton enshrinement. His Canton classmates include Paul Krause, Anthony Munoz and Mike Singletary. In seven years with the Eagles, McDonald had 287 catches for 5,499 yards and 66 touchdowns.