Darnell McDonald (gridiron football)

Last updated

Darnell McDonald
No. 80, 84
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1976-05-26) May 26, 1976 (age 49)
Fairfax, Virginia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Hayfield
(Alexandria, Virginia)
College: Garden City (1995–1996)
Kansas State (1997–1998)
NFL draft: 1999: 7th round, 240th pick
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Receptions:9
Receiving yards:96
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Darnell Ali McDonald (born May 26, 1976) is a former wide receiver for the Los Angeles Xtreme of the XFL. McDonald played one season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL in 1999. [1] He was drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. [2] He also played for the BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. McDonald played for the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League in 2007. He holds the record for most receiving yards at the Fiesta Bowl with 206 yards in 1998 and tying Rhett Dawson for most touchdown receptions with 3. [3] He was credited with being a key to success in the win by Kansas State against Syracuse. [4]

Contents

College career

McDonald played two seasons at Garden City. In 1996, McDonald recorded 73 catches for 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Broncbusters. [5] After two seasons of play, McDonald transferred to Kansas State. In the 1997 Fiesta Bowl, McDonald set a record with 206 receiving yards and three touchdowns. [6]

Statistics

SeasonTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgTD
1997 Kansas State 1162144121.06
1998 Kansas State 1211751,09214.69
Regular season 2317961,53316.015
Bowl games221233027.55

Bowl games only began counting toward single-season and career statistics in 2002. [7]

Professional career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

McDonald was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL draft with the 240th overall pick. In week 9, he recorded his first NFL touchdown on a 10-yard reception from quarterback Trent Dilfer against the New Orleans Saints. On the season, he appeared in eight games and recorded nine receptions for 96 yards and a touchdown. [8] He was released on July 30, 2000. [9]

Los Angeles Xtreme

On October 30, 2000, McDonald was selected 305th overall in the 2001 XFL Draft by the Los Angeles Xtreme. [10] On the season he had 34 receptions for 456 yards. He also led the league with eight touchdown catches. In the championship game against San Francisco, McDonald had seven receptions for 82 yards in the victory. [11]

British Columbia Lions

On August 1, 2001, McDonald signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). On the season he had 34 receptions for 456 yards and two touchdowns. On February 27, 2002, McDonald signed with the Miami Dolphins. He was released on June 13, 2002. He then returned to British Columbia where he was released on September 24, 2002. [12]

Calgary Stampeders (first stint)

On August 17, 2003, McDonald signed with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In his first season with Calgary, he appeared in 14 games and led the team with 67 receptions for 1,0002 yards and four touchdowns. He was named CFL West All-star. He re-signed with the Stampeders on December 18, 2003, and was released in May 2004.

Montreal Alouettes

In 2004, McDonald signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He did not play due to injury.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

On August 4, 2005, McDonald signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL). In five games he recorded 17 receptions for 232 yards and one touchdown.

Calgary Stampeders (second stint)

On January 31, 2006, with the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was released before appearing in a game. [13]

New Orleans VooDoo

McDonald signed with the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League (AFL). He appeared in three games and recorded 29 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

Professional career statistics

NFL

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
1999 TB 8099610.7231
Career 8099610.7231

XFL

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2001 LA 10?3445613.4398
Career 10?3435613.4398

CFL

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2001 BC 10?3155818.0652
2003 CGY 14?671,00215.0474
2004 MTL Did Not Play (injury—knee)
2005 WPG 531723213.6233
Career 29?1151,79215.6657

AFL

YearTeamGamesReceiving
GPGSRecYdsAvgLngTD
2007 NO 3?2930210.4253
Career 3?2930210.4253

References

  1. "Tampa Bay shows no tolerance, dumps McDonald". Gainesville Sun. July 30, 2000. p. 6C.
  2. "1999 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  3. "Tostitos Viesta Bowl Individual Records". Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  4. "27th Annual Fiesta Bowl". Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2012.
  5. "1998 Kansas State Media Guide, pg 73". archive.org. August 22, 2025.
  6. "1999 Kansas State Media Guide". archive.org. August 22, 2025.
  7. "NCAA changes policy on football stats". ESPN.com. AP. August 28, 2002. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  8. "1998 Game Logs". sports-reference.com. August 22, 2025.
  9. "Bucs Waive McDonald". buccaneers.com. August 22, 2025.
  10. "2001 XFL draft". oursportscentral.com. August 22, 2025.
  11. "championship game box score". all-xfl.com. August 22, 2025.
  12. "Darnell McDonald transactions". profootballarchives.com. August 22, 2025.
  13. "Former Stamp Re-joins Red and White". stampeders.com. August 22, 2025.