Randall McDaniel

Randall Cornell McDaniel (born December 19, 1964) is an American former professional football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Minnesota Vikings and two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Early career
McDaniel played high school football and ran track at Agua Fria High School in Avondale, Arizona, then played college football at Arizona State University, where he participated in the school's first ever Rose Bowl appearance in 1987. In recognition of his Rose Bowl accomplishments, McDaniel was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2018. He was joined by fellow Sun Devil Curley Culp on August 3, 2013, as the only Pro Football Hall of Fame members to be born in the state of Arizona.

Professional career

Also a standout athlete, McDaniel still holds the fastest 100-meter dash time ever among offensive linemen in the NFL at 10.64 seconds, setting this record as a high school senior in a state meet, electronically timed. He recorded a PR of 50.04 seconds in the 400-meter dash. In the throwing events, he got top-throws of 16.76 meters in the shot put and 47.42 meters in the discus. He also benched 435, inclined 380, dead lifted 660, and squatted 650 in competition. In addition, he was timed at 4.6 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had a one step vertical leap of 37 inches at just 9% body fat.

He began his professional career being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft.  He started every Vikings regular-season game from 1990 to 1999, as well as a record 11 consecutive Pro Bowls. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest and most versatile offensive linemen ever to play the game. He started in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls (1989–2000), tied with Champ Bailey and Will Shields for the most Pro Bowls played. He also started 202 consecutive games in his career. During his time with the Minnesota Vikings, he occasionally would play fullback in short-yardage and goal-line situations.

He was released on February 10, 2000, as part of a salary-cap move. He eventually signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a three-year, $6M contract. He played two seasons there before retiring. On February 27, 2002, he signed a one-day contract to retire with Vikings. When he played for Tampa Bay, in 2000, he became the oldest player in the NFL to score his first touchdown reception at 36 years, 282 days old.

Legacy
During the 2006 season, McDaniel was inducted into the Minnesota Vikings "Ring of Honor".

McDaniel was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame in 2008. McDaniel was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on January 31, 2009. McDaniel's bust, sculpted by Scott Myers, was unveiled at the Enshrinement Ceremony on August 8, 2009.

A multi-use sports center was built in Randall's hometown of Avondale in 2010 and was named in his honor (Randall McDaniel Sports Complex).

After 13 years of volunteering in schools, McDaniel said that he had been working in public schools since retirement.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Dakota Mermis is his nephew.

References

1964 births
Living people
People from Avondale, Arizona
Players of American football from Maricopa County, Arizona
American football offensive guards
Arizona State Sun Devils football players
All-American college football players
College Football Hall of Fame inductees
Minnesota Vikings players
Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
National Conference Pro Bowl players
Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees