Tommy McDonald

All-American running back Tommy McDonald led the University of Oklahoma to two National Championships in 1955 and 1956. His natural speed, so impressive that he was given the nickname Blonde Blur, was his ticket to greatness, both at OU and in his 12-year professional career, the longest of any OU player.

McDonald who won the Maxwell Award in 1956 for Best Collegiate Player, set an NCAA record for scoring touchdowns in 20 of 21 games as a Sooner. Sports Illustrated named him as having the best hands in football in 1962 and was featured on the cover in 1964, billed as the smallest man in pro football.

He stood 5 feet 6 inches and weighed 143 pounds when recruited by Bud Wilkinson and played at 5 feet 9 inches and 175 pounds in the NFL. McDonald was the Heisman Trophy runner up in 1956, consensus All-American in 1955 and 1956, All-Big Seven in 1955 and 1956 and was named Sporting News Player of the Year in 1956.

He also won the MVP award in the North-South shrine game in Miami, Florida. McDonald was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles and was sixth in the league in scoring as a receiver. He caught 495 passes for 8,410 yards and 84 touchdowns. He played on two NFL Championship teams (Philadelphia and Dallas) in 1960 and 1968. He played for Los Angeles, Atlanta and finished with the Cleveland Browns before his retirement. Only missing 3 games in 12 years, he played in 152 games from 1957-1968.

McDonald was a first team starter at receiver in sixth Pro Bowls and voted to the NFL All-Star Team as receiver three times. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

McDonald was born in Roy, New Mexico on July 26, 1934. He attend Highland High School where he broke the state scoring record with 157 points as a senior quarterback. He also broke city records for scoring in basketball and track.