Clinton McDonald is a former American football defensive tackle who played in the National Football League (NFL) for almost a decade. He began his football career in college, playing for the Memphis Tigers at the University of Memphis. During his time there, he was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and was a three-year starter for the team.
After college, McDonald was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. However, he was waived by the team before the start of the regular season and was picked up by the Seattle Seahawks. He spent the next two seasons with the Seahawks, playing in a reserve role and contributing on special teams.
In 2013, McDonald signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent. He had a breakout season with the team, starting all 16 games and recording a career-high 5.5 sacks. He continued to be a key contributor for the Buccaneers over the next few seasons, playing in all 16 games in both 2014 and 2015 and recording a total of 9.5 sacks during that time.
In 2017, McDonald signed with the Denver Broncos as a free agent. He played in 14 games for the team that season, recording two sacks and 20 tackles. However, he was released by the team in March 2018 and signed with the Oakland Raiders a few weeks later.
McDonald played in all 16 games for the Raiders in 2018, starting 10 of them. He recorded four sacks and 31 tackles during the season. However, he was released by the team in March 2019 and did not play in the NFL again.
Throughout his career, McDonald was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions on the defensive line. He was also a strong contributor on special teams, often playing on the kickoff and punt coverage units. Off the field, McDonald was involved in various charitable organizations and was known for his community service work.
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