| Date of birth: | May 18, 1958 |
| Place of birth: | Rome, Georgia, U.S. |
| Career information | |
|---|---|
| Position(s): | Center |
| College: | Georgia |
| NFL Draft: | 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 32 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1980–1983 1984–1992 1993–1994 1995–1996 |
Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts Seattle Seahawks Dallas Cowboys |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1986, 1987, 1988 1989, 1995, 1996 |
| Honors: | 1× Super Bowl champion (XXX)
First African-American Center in the NFL |
| Playing stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Raymond Canute Donaldson (born May 18, 1958 in Rome, Georgia) is a former American football Center who played 17 seasons in the National Football League. He was selected to six Pro Bowls (four of them in his stay with the Colts) and then he played in Super Bowl XXX as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Donaldson played college football at the University of Georgia.
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Donaldson center and guard at Georgia University, and was an All-Southeastern Conference selection his senior year.
In 2006 he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Donaldson, was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the 2nd round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He played with the Colts for 13 years and made the Pro Bowl 4 straight seasons from 1986 to 1989.
He was released at the end of the 1992 season at age 35. He left the team ranked third in franchise history in games played (184). To this day, he is still tied for second-place all-time for years of service with the team, trailing only Johnny Unitas who spent 17 years with the franchise.
He signed with the Seattle Seahawks and played there from 1993 to 1994.
Needing help at center after Mark Stepnoski signed with the Houston Oilers, the Dallas Cowboys signed Donaldson as an unrestricted free agent in 1995. That season he helped the team win Super Bowl XXX.
He was part of a great offensive line that included: Larry Allen, Nate Newton, Mark Tuinei and Erik Williams.
Donaldson retired at the end of the 1996 season, after playing for 17 years and 244 games. During his time with the Cowboys, he experienced a career renaissance, making the Pro Bowl both seasons.
He currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana where he is a high school football coach.