Synopsis
"They Pay Me to Catch Footballs," written by Tommy McDonald with contributions from Ed Richter and a foreword by Sonny Jurgensen, is an engaging autobiography published in 1962. The book chronicles the life and career of Tommy McDonald, a diminutive yet dynamic wide receiver who defied expectations to become one of the National Football League’s premier pass-catchers. At just five-foot-ten and 175 pounds, McDonald describes himself as “a little guy in a big guy’s game,” but his story is one of triumph through speed, agility, and an unrelenting passion for football. The narrative captures his journey from a small-town upbringing to stardom with the Philadelphia Eagles, offering readers an intimate look at his personal experiences, his approach to the game, and the colorful world of professional football in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
The book begins with McDonald’s early years in Roy, New Mexico, where he was born in 1934, and later Albuquerque, where his family moved to give him better opportunities to showcase his athletic talents. Despite his small stature, McDonald excelled in multiple sports, setting state records in football and earning a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. At Oklahoma, under the legendary coach Bud Wilkinson, he starred as a running back, contributing to the Sooners’ remarkable 47-game winning streak and two national championships. McDonald reflects fondly on these college years, where his versatility shone—he ran, caught passes, and even threw option passes—though he notes that his talents were not yet focused on receiving, the skill that would define his professional career. His college success, including a third-place finish in the 1956 Heisman Trophy voting and winning the Maxwell Award, set the stage for his entry into the NFL, where the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the third round of the 1957 draft.
Transitioning to the professional level, McDonald details his evolution from a running back to a flanker, a position that capitalized on his exceptional hands and elusive speed. The book vividly recounts his rookie season, where a pivotal moment came when he stepped in for an injured teammate, making a 61-yard reception and a touchdown catch that signaled his potential as a receiver. His breakout came with the Eagles’ 1960 NFL Championship victory over Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers, a game where McDonald’s 35-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Norm Van Brocklin proved decisive in securing the title. He shares behind-the-scenes anecdotes from this era, including his relationships with teammates like Van Brocklin and Sonny Jurgensen, and the thrill of playing in front of passionate Philadelphia fans at Franklin Field. McDonald’s humor and charisma shine through as he describes the physical and mental demands of the game, including playing through a broken jaw in 1959, a testament to his toughness and dedication.
The narrative also delves into McDonald’s life off the field, painting a picture of a man who embraced his role as a football hero with a lighthearted swagger. He recounts interactions with fans, his love for riding horses (a nod to his New Mexico roots), and even his foray into a cigar commercial where he galloped off-screen on a pinto pony. McDonald doesn’t shy away from the challenges, acknowledging the pressure to perform and the physical toll of the sport, yet his tone remains upbeat and self-deprecating. The book reaches a high point with his 1961 season, when he led the NFL with 1,144 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns, earning recognition as one of the league’s elite players. Through it all, he emphasizes the joy of being paid to do what he loved—catching footballs—and the satisfaction of proving doubters wrong about his size.
"They Pay Me to Catch Footballs" is more than a sports memoir; it’s a snapshot of an era when football was rawer and less commercialized, told through the eyes of a player who brought flair and resilience to every play. McDonald’s storytelling, enriched by Richter’s collaboration and Jurgensen’s endorsement, offers a blend of action, reflection, and personality that appeals to football fans and casual readers alike. The book concludes with McDonald still in the prime of his career, looking forward to more seasons with the Eagles, unaware that trades to teams like the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns awaited him, or that he would eventually be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. It’s a celebration of a man who turned his perceived limitations into strengths, leaving an indelible mark on the game he adored.