Ricardo McDonald explained

Ricardo Milton McDonald (born November 8, 1969) is a former linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) that played for the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos. He was drafted by the Bengals in the fourth round of the 1992 NFL Draft.^[1] He played college football for the University of Pittsburgh under head coach Mike Gottfried and Paul Hackett.

He played for Eastside High School in Paterson, New Jersey under Coach Barrett 'Barry' Rosser. Joe Louis Clark was the school's Principal during his attendance there, as depicted in the film Lean on Me.^[2]

Family Tree

Ricardo has a twin brother Devon McDonald who played linebacker for University of Notre Dame under Coach Lou Holtz. He went on to play professionally for the Indianapolis Colts and the Arizona Cardinals. Ricardo has a son named Maurice McDonald who currently played linebacker for Tennessee State University under Head Coach Eddie George and also played linebacker for Albany State University under head coach Quinn Gray. His younger cousin Lennox Gordon played collegiately for University of New Mexico. He went on to play professionally for the Indianapolis Colts and the Buffalo Bills. Ricardo's Nephew Maurice McDonald played Wide receiver for University of Maine from 2009 to 2012. McDonald's eldest daughter Brittany McDonald played basketball for Tulane University from 2010 to 2013. He also has a niece, Jazzmine McDonald who played for Indiana University from 2013 to 2016.

Notes and References

1. Web site: 1992 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-05-07 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
2. Idec, Keith. "Where are they now? Eastside's Ricardo McDonald", The Record (Bergen County), March 7, 2011. Accessed May 5, 2012. "While many of them suffer from debilitating physical ailments, financial difficulties and marital problems that often lead to divorce in their post-NFL lives, McDonald is in good physical condition, is a happily married father of four and is part-owner of a thriving truck stop 90 minutes outside of Pittsburgh, where the ex-Eastside star was a collegiate standout for the Panthers.... He and his twin brother, former Kennedy star and NFL linebacker Devon McDonald, were among the best high school football players in North Jersey during the 1980s. They also experienced personal tragedy that made them want to provide positive examples to Paterson’s youth."