Ray Donaldson is a former American football center who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He was born on May 18, 1959, in Cincinnati, Ohio, and attended the University of Georgia, where he played college football for the Bulldogs.
Donaldson was selected by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played for the Colts for nine seasons, from 1980 to 1988, and was named to the Pro Bowl six times during his tenure with the team. He was also named a first-team All-Pro in 1987.
In 1989, Donaldson was traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Dallas Cowboys for one season in 1991 before being traded to the New England Patriots, where he played for two seasons from 1992 to 1993.
Donaldson was known for his durability and consistency as a center. He started in 223 consecutive games, which was a record for centers at the time. He was also known for his leadership and was named a team captain for several of the teams he played for.
Donaldson retired from the NFL after the 1996 season. He finished his career with 223 consecutive starts, which was a record for centers at the time. He was also named to the Pro Bowl six times and was a first-team All-Pro once.
After retiring from football, Donaldson worked as a high school football coach in Georgia. He was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.
In summary, Ray Donaldson was a highly successful NFL center who played for 17 seasons. He was known for his durability, consistency, and leadership, and was named to the Pro Bowl six times during his career. He retired with a record for consecutive starts by a center and was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame after his retirement.
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