Former Pro Football Player shares his career highs, lows with CCHS juniors in message about life’s choices

WHEELING — “You’re not born a winner. You’re not born a loser. You’re born a chooser,” said Devon McDonald, former NFL player with the Indianapolis Colts from 1993-95 in a recent presentation to Central Catholic High School juniors sponsored by Sports World, Inc. of Indianapolis, IN. That message set the tone for an inspiring presentation by McDonald, who at just 12 years old said he made the decision to pursue a love of football that would later lead him to success playing for the Fighting Irish at the University of Notre Dame and then on to the Indianapolis Colts.

“It’s a pleasure to stand in front of you, the next leaders of our country,” began McDonald. “I invite you to listen to my story with your heart and not put up a wall to what I have to say.” He went on to tell his life’s story from humble beginnings growing up in Jamaica to successful NFL player. McDonald arrived in the U.S. at 11 years old. One year later, he had his first taste of organized football, playing for his local midget league football team. At that young age, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to continue playing the sport and contemplated quitting. “But I made the choice at that time to continue playing football and worked hard and did well enough to play in high school,” McDonald said. “Looking back, that was the first choice that led me to where I am today.”

McDonald attended East Side High School in Patterson, NJ (the same school portrayed in the Hollywood film “Lean On Me”). But because his football coach told him he would never play Division I college football, McDonald decided to transfer his sophomore year to Kennedy High – another choice that would ultimately have a major impact on his life. At Kennedy, McDonald excelled on the gridiron and, during his senior year, was part of the team that captured the state championship title. Upon graduation, he was awarded a full-ride scholarship to play football for Notre Dame.

“I chose to believe in myself and not listen to others who tried to bring me down,” McDonald said. At Notre Dame, he helped the team earn a national championship title in 1988 against the WVU Mountaineers and quarterback Major Harris. As a senior in 1992, he was selected as Team Captain and was recognized as an Honorable Mention All-American. He was also named Most Valuable Player at the Cotton Bowl game in 1993.

In 1993, McDonald was drafted in the 4th round by the Indianapolis Colts and played both Outside Linebacker and on Special Teams during his three seasons with the Colts. His popularity was evident when Colts fans voted him "Unsung Hero of the Year" in 1993; he was also named the Colts Special Team Player of the Year in 1994.

McDonald talked honestly to CCHS juniors about the odds of making it into the NFL. “In the U.S., one million high school football players graduate each year,” he said. Of that number, 50,000 will get college scholarships to continue their athletic careers, and of that 50,000, just 400 will be drafted into the NFL...very few get a shot at the NFL.” He added that today there are just 1,600 professional football players.

“I had it all then – fame, fortune and popularity,” McDonald said. “But something was missing from my life.” He went on to describe a life of depression and heavy use of alcohol, dating back to his high school days.

“I began drinking when I was in high school and because of that I never reached my full potential,” he said. He recalled his mother asking him to embrace God when he was 13 years old, but he “put a wall up to her concern” and turned his back on his faith.

“I remember in college, after we won the Michigan game, we all got drunk after the game and it was then that I hit a real low. I thought about suicide because the pressure of winning and school got to be too much.” His dependence on alcohol followed him into the NFL. “I started getting to practice late because of partying and then I wasn’t playing well in the games. I was cut from the team in 1995.”

From 1995-96, McDonald went to play for the Arizona Cardinals. After a short hiatus, he went back into professional football, playing with the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena League for two seasons.

Today, at 41, McDonald is married with two daughters and a works as a professional speaker for Sports World, a national organization with a mission to “send former professional athletes to share personal life experiences with students, helping them to recognize the consequences of their choices while challenging them with the message of hope.”

“My message to you today is that I made the decision to have Christ in my life and I’m happier than ever,” he said. “I live in Indianapolis making half the money I did in the NFL, but I’m so much happier.”

He then encouraged his student audience to “allow yourselves a relationship with Christ and to let it grow. If you have built a wall up, make a decision today to make a fresh commitment to Christ.”

Sports World was created out of the National Football League’s "chapel program" which its founder, Dr. Ira Lee Eshleman, helped to initiate in the late 1960s. Through his 10-year involvement as the NFL’s Chaplain, he worked with many players and coaches and realized the tremendous impact that professional football players had on America’s youth. In 1978 Sports World, Inc. began to schedule these NFL players into school assembly programs. Today the program reaches more than 470,000 students annually.

With a foundation dating back to the 19th century, a faith-based education stands as the hallmark of Wheeling Central Catholic High School. Located in the heart of The Friendly City, Wheeling Central is proud of its 400-member student body and its 8,000 alumni, as well as their outstanding academic, athletic, and community service achievements. One of seven Catholic High Schools in West Virginia, Wheeling Central is where championship lives begin.