ALAMEDA – Clinton McDonald officially became a Raider two weeks ago now. The moment should’ve come in March, but the veteran defensive tackle chose Denver instead. That wasn’t the right fit, and the Broncos cut him before the season even started.
McDonald visited the Raiders in the offseason, but chose the Broncos after a decision he says was made in haste. He ended up in the East Bay before Week 2, following an injury plague at his position.
He caught up quick, played right away and has made a solid impact in run defense and has one of three Raiders sacks.
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That’s why we’re just getting to know the ninth-year veteran, now on his fifth NFL team, and what makes him tick.
McDonald joined The Raiders Insider Podcast to discuss that and why he spends significant time giving back to the community. He has spent the last four seasons in Tampa Bay, and was named the Buccaneers’ 2017 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee after hiring food trucks to provide more than 15,000 meals to people impacted by Hurricane Irma.
He has also focused energy on Tony Dungy’s organization All-Pro Dad, devoted to promoting fathers to take an active role in their children’s lives.
That really hits home for McDonald.
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“Growing up in Jacksonville, Arkansas, we didn’t have a lot of money or resources on our hands,” McDonald said. “I knew my father had a lot of love for us, as well as my mother, and worked tireless hours every day as a flight instructor at Little Rock Air Force Base, while doing construction on the side I helped him with from ages 8 to 18. …Growing up, my father was my hero.”
McDonald can still see structures in Jacksonville he helped build, as gratifying as any career accomplishment. There’s a lot less glory involved in that than his regular gig, but they represent moments learning life lessons with his dad.
McDonald’s father Larry was in the Air Force and a Vietnam War veteran, part of a military family background that stretches back to the Korean War. McDonald’s grandfather fought in that theater, and his father and uncle were members of the Air Force. His cousins serve and his brother was recently discharged from the same line of service.
That’s a point of pride for McDonald, who regularly brings attention to veterans' issues and believes he has benefitted from growing up in a military household.
“It helped me learn about discipline and sacrifice and, if you do things right the first time, it can help you in the long run,” McDonald said. “I feel blessed to be in this league such a long time. My football career is a testament to my mother and father instilled those types of principles into me, to make me learn what value is, where we place value and how we go about our daily business.”
McDonald values his career and feels a responsibility to shine light on others, especially those hurt in the line of duty.
“To recognize those who aren’t recognized enough as our heroes," McDonald said, "those defending our nation and allowing us to have the freedoms we have today, people we sometimes take for granted, is an obligation to everybody with a platform.”