Darnell McDonald (gridiron football) facts for kids

Darnell Ali McDonald was a talented American football player born on May 26, 1976. He played as a wide receiver, which is a player who catches passes from the quarterback. Darnell played in several different football leagues during his career, showing his skills across various teams.

Early Football Days

Darnell McDonald started his professional football journey after being chosen in the 1999 NFL Draft. The NFL stands for the National Football League, which is the biggest professional American football league. He was picked by a team called the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played one season with them in 1999.

Playing in Different Leagues

After his time in the NFL, Darnell explored other football leagues. He played for the Los Angeles Xtreme in a league called the XFL. The XFL was a professional football league that ran for one season in 2001.

Darnell also played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The CFL is Canada's main professional football league, and it has slightly different rules than American football. He played for three different CFL teams: the BC Lions, the Calgary Stampeders, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Later in his career, in 2007, Darnell played for the New Orleans VooDoo in the Arena Football League (AFL). The AFL was a league where games were played indoors on a smaller field, making for fast-paced and exciting matches.

College Achievements

Before turning professional, Darnell McDonald was a star player in college. He played for Kansas State. He holds an impressive record at the Fiesta Bowl, which is a major college football game. In 1998, he gained 206 receiving yards in that game, which is the most ever by a single player in the Fiesta Bowl. He also tied a record by catching three touchdown passes in the same game. His great performance helped Kansas State win against Syracuse.

Where to Find More Information

• Darnell McDonald's profile at NFL.com