Ray Donaldson

Last updated

Ray Donaldson
No. 53
Position: Center
Personal information
Born: (1958-05-18) May 18, 1958 (age 66)
Rome, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:311 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school: East Rome (Rome)
College: Georgia
NFL draft: 1980  / Round: 2 / Pick: 32
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Games played:244
Games started:228
Fumble recoveries:5
Player stats at PFR

Raymond Canute Donaldson (born May 18, 1958) [1] is an American former professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Contents

Early life

Donaldson attended East Rome High School where he participated in basketball and football, playing as a linebacker, fullback and tight end. As a senior, he received High School All-American and All‐State honors. His jersey has since been retired.

He accepted a football scholarship from the University of Georgia with the intention of playing linebacker. As a sophomore, he was switched to center after the fifth game of the season because of injuries. He also played guard during his time in college.

As a senior, he was an All-American and an All-Southeastern Conference selection. He also played in the East–West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl.

In 2006, he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame. In 2010, he was inducted into the Rome Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional career

Baltimore Colts

Donaldson was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round (32nd overall) of the 1980 NFL draft. As a rookie, he was a reserve offensive lineman (center & guard), tied for fifth on the team with 9 special teams tackles.

In 1981, he was named the starting center and it is believed that he also became the first starting African American center in NFL History. [2] He still played on the punt coverage unit, making 2 special teams tackles.

In 1983, he was named as a first alternate to the Pro Bowl, while helping the team lead the AFC with 2,695 rushing yards.

In 1986, he received his first Pro Bowl nomination. In 1987, he missed weeks 3 through 5 because of the NFLPA strike, ending a streak of 91 consecutive starts. He received his first nomination as a Pro Bowl starter. He also went to the playoffs for the only time in his career.

In 1991, he suffered a broken fibula and was lost for the season after the third game against the Los Angeles Raiders, snapping a streak of 61 consecutive games played and started since the 1987 NFLPA strike. They were also the first games in his career missed because of injury.

On February 18, 1993, he was released at the age of 35. [3] At his retirement, he was third in team history with 184 games played. He played with the Colts for 13 years and made the Pro Bowl 4 straight seasons from 1986 to 1989. At the time, he was tied for second-place all-time for years of service with the club, trailing only Johnny Unitas' 17 seasons.

Seattle Seahawks

On April 20, 1993, Donaldson signed as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks and anchored an offensive line that helped the team lead the AFC in rushing for the first time in franchise history with 2,015 yards. [4] In 1994, he helped Chris Warren rank first in the AFC with 1,545 rushing yards.

Dallas Cowboys

Needing help at center after Mark Stepnoski left to the Houston Oilers, the Dallas Cowboys signed Donaldson as an unrestricted free agent on March 20, 1995. [5] That season, he was the NFL's oldest starting center until suffering a broken right ankle and being placed on the injured reserve list, snapping a string of 60 consecutive starts. He was replaced by Derek Kennard and missed the last 4 regular-season games and all of the playoffs, including Super Bowl XXX. Donaldson contributed to the offensive line breaking a team record by allowing just 18 sacks in a season and to Emmitt Smith winning his fourth rushing title, score an NFL record 25 rushing touchdowns and gain a club record 1,773 rushing yards.

In 1996, he started 16 games in a line that led the league in allowing the fewest sacks with 19. Donaldson was released for salary cap reasons in the 1997 off-season. [6] During his time with the Cowboys, he experienced a career renaissance, making the Pro Bowl both seasons. [7] He was also part of a formidable offensive line that included: Larry Allen, Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei and Erik Williams.

Personal life

Donaldson currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he is a high school football coach. His cousin Robert Lavette was an NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys. During his high school football days at East Rome, he was teammates with future Pro Wrestling legend Arn Anderson [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXVIII</span> 1994 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Dallas Cowboys and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Buffalo Bills to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1993 season. The Cowboys defeated the Bills, for the second straight year, by a score of 30–13, winning their fourth Super Bowl in team history, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers and the San Francisco 49ers for most Super Bowl wins. The Buffalo Bills became the only team to both play and lose four consecutive Super Bowls for a 0-4 franchise Super Bowl record, and as of 2023, remains the team's most recent Super Bowl appearance. The game was played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Since the 1993 regular season was conducted over 18 weeks, the traditional bye week between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl was not employed; the last time this had happened was before Super Bowl XXV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larry Allen</span> American football player (1971–2024)

Larry Christopher Allen Jr. was an American professional football player who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons, primarily with the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football for the Butte Roadrunners and the Sonoma State Cossacks, and was selected by the Cowboys in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft. Allen is regarded as one of the NFL's physically strongest players ever, while also capable of using his speed against defenders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Mawae</span> American football player and coach (born 1971)

Kevin James Mawae is an American football coach and former professional player. He played as a center in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, most notably with the New York Jets. Mawae played college football for the LSU Tigers, earning first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 1994 NFL draft. After joining the Jets in 1998, he received six consecutive Pro Bowl selections and five-first All-Pro honors during his eight seasons with the team. Mawae spent his final four seasons as a member of the Tennessee Titans, extending his Pro Bowl selections to eight and his first-team All-Pro honors to seven. Near the end of his career, he also served two terms as NFLPA president from 2008 to 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Reeves</span> American football player and coach (1944–2022)

Daniel Edward Reeves was an American professional football running back and coach in the National Football League (NFL). During his 38 years in the NFL, Reeves participated in nine Super Bowls, the third most for an individual. He was a head coach for 23 seasons, a position he held with the Denver Broncos from 1981 to 1992, the New York Giants from 1993 to 1996, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1997 to 2003. As a player, he spent his eight-season career with the Dallas Cowboys, who signed him as an undrafted free agent in 1965.

Mark Matthew Stepnoski is an American former professional football player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL). He attended Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie, Pennsylvania, and went on to star at the University of Pittsburgh. He played 13 seasons in the NFL, with the Dallas Cowboys from 1989 to 1994, with the Houston / Tennessee Oilers from 1995 to 1998, and back to the Cowboys for three more seasons. Stepnoski won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys and was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls from 1992 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971–72 NFL playoffs</span>

The National Football League playoffs for the 1971 season began on December 25, 1971. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI, 24–3, on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The season culminated with Super Bowl XXXIII, with the Denver Broncos defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34–19 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami. The Broncos had won their first thirteen games, the best start since the undefeated 1972 Dolphins, and were tipped by some to have a realistic chance at winning all nineteen games. The Minnesota Vikings became the first team since the 1968 Baltimore Colts to win all but one of their regular season games and not win the Super Bowl. After no team had won 14 regular season games since the 1992 49ers, three teams went 14–2 or better for the only time in a 16-game season.

The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that weekend off. This marked the first time since the 1966 NFL season and the AFL seasons of 1966 and 1967 that there were byes in week 1.

The 1991 NFL season was the 72nd regular season of the National Football League (NFL). It was the final season for coach Chuck Noll. The season ended with Super Bowl XXVI when the Washington Redskins defeated the Buffalo Bills, 37–24, at the Metrodome in Minnesota. This was the second of four consecutive Super Bowl losses for Buffalo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 NFL season</span> 1987 National Football League season

The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). This season featured games predominantly played by replacement players, as the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) players were on strike from weeks four to six with week three being cancelled in its entirety. This remains the last NFL season in which regular-season games were impacted by a labor conflict.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Preston Pearson</span> American football player (born 1945)

Preston James Pearson is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college basketball for the Illinois Fighting Illini.

The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League (NFL).

Hudson Houck is an American football coach and college player who was an offensive line coach for a six teams of the National Football League (NFL) over a 40-year coaching career. Houck retired on January 10, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samson Satele</span> American football player (born 1984)

Samson H. Satele is a former American football center. He played college football at Hawaii and was drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Dallas Cowboys season</span> NFL team season

The 2004 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 16th under the ownership of Jerry Jones, their 33rd playing their home games at Texas Stadium, and their second season under head coach Bill Parcells. The team failed to improve on their 10-6 record in 2003 and finished at 6–10, failing to make the playoffs for the fourth time since 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 NFL season</span> 2009 National Football League season

The 2009 NFL season was the 90th season in the history of the National Football League (NFL). The 50th anniversary of the original eight charter members of the American Football League was celebrated during this season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyron Smith</span> American football player (born 1990)

Tyron Jerrar Smith is an American football offensive tackle for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans where he won the Morris Trophy, recognizing the best offensive and defensive linemen on the West Coast, in 2010. Smith was selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the ninth overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. In 13 seasons with the Cowboys, Smith was an eight-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro, and was named to the 2010s All-Decade Team.

The 2012 NFL season was the 93rd season of the National Football League (NFL) and the 47th of the Super Bowl era. It began on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, with the defending Super Bowl XLVI champion New York Giants falling to the Dallas Cowboys in the 2012 NFL Kickoff game at MetLife Stadium, and ended with Super Bowl XLVII, the league's championship game, on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, with the Jim Harbaugh-coached San Francisco 49ers facing the John Harbaugh-coached Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens won the game, which marked the first time two brothers were head coaches for opposing teams in the championship game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Turbin</span> American football player (born 1989)

Robert James Turbin is an American former professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah State Aggies, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Seahawks. With the Seahawks, he won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, and Indianapolis Colts. He appears on CBS Sports Network as a commentator for their college football broadcasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Todd Gurley</span> American football player (born 1994)

Todd Jerome Gurley II is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, earning first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Rams with the 10th overall pick of the 2015 NFL draft.

References

  1. ↑ Sporting News (1990). Football Register, 1990. Sporting News Publishing Company. p. 78. ISBN   978-0-89204-364-4 . Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Former UGA Center Ray Donaldson Selected To Georgia Sports Hall of Fame" . Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Colts waive Donaldson" . Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Donaldson, Seahawks agree" . Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Cowboys sign Donaldson to replace Stepnoski at center" . Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Donaldson given release by Cowboys" . Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Deion, Novacek Among Best Free-Agent Signings in Cowboys History" . Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ The Arn Show Podcast on Westwood One - Episode 1 “Territory Days”
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.