Timothy McDonald (born January 6, 1965) is a former college and professional American football player who was a strong safety in the National Football League (NFL) for thirteen seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. McDonald played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and was honored as a two-time All-American and two-time team MVP. A second-round pick in the 1987 NFL Draft, McDonald played professionally for the St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals (1987-1992) and San Francisco 49ers (1993-1999) of the NFL. Upon the conclusion of his playing career, McDonald entered coaching, most recently serving as the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills. Early years McDonald was born in Fresno, California. He played high school football at Edison High School in Fresno. At Edison, McDonald was named a prep All-American, All-California, All-Northern California, all-metro and league MVP at both safety and quarterback. He completed 56.9 percent of his passes for 2,739 yards and 30 touchdowns, and also rushed for 400 yards and six touchdowns. McDonald was also credited with five INTs and 123 tackles on defense. College career He attended the University of Southern California (USC), and majored in business administration at what is now the Marshall School of Business. As a three-year starter, he accumulated 325 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was a consensus All-American as a junior in 1985 and a unanimous All-American as a senior in 1986, and followed a prominent list of All-American safeties who attended USC, such as Dennis Thurman, Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, Joey Browner, Charles Phillips, Artimus Parker, Mike Battle, and Mark Carrier. McDonald is one of only six safeties named on the Walter Camp All-Century Team selected in 1999, celebrating the greatest college football players of the twentieth century. He was also a finalist as a senior for the Jim Thorpe Award and the Defensive Player of the Game in the 1987 East–West Shrine Game. Professional career He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (34th pick overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. In his six seasons with the Cardinals, Tim McDonald started 5 seasons. In those 5 seasons, he accounted for 605 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 20 int, 6 forced fumbles, 7 fumble recoveries, and a defensive touchdown. His best statistical season, and perhaps his finest season ever as a pro was in 1989 when he recorded a team-leading 155 tackles, 7 interceptions