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Don McCall
Don McCall
Don McCall
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Donald Charles McCall (September 21, 1944 – January 17, 2025) was an American professional football player who was a running back for four seasons with the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans. [1] After retiring from professional football, Donald began a career with the Los Angeles Police Department. McCall later transitioned to the transportation department. He died at his home in Spring Hill, Tennessee, on January 17, 2025, at the age of 80.[2]

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Don McCall

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'''Don McCall''' was an American professional football player known for his career as a running back in the National Football League with the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Born on September 21, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama, he played college football at the University of Southern California before being selected by the Saints in the fifth round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He played four seasons in the NFL from 1967 to 1970, appearing in 42 games across stints with the Saints (1967–1968 and 1970) and the Steelers (1969). He also played in the World Football League for the Southern California Sun in 1974 and the San Antonio Wings in 1975. After his NFL career, McCall began a career with the Los Angeles Police Department and later transitioned to a supervisory role in the transportation department. He also made occasional media appearances related to his playing days, including as himself in the football film Number One (1969) and on NFL broadcasts. McCall passed away on January 17, 2025, at his residence in Spring Hill, Tennessee, at the age of 80. He was survived by his wife, Shirley McCall, and his son, Donald McCall Jr.

Early life

Birth and background

Donald Charles McCall was born on September 21, 1944, in Birmingham, Alabama. He was the son of Joe Dawkins, Sr., and Vivian McCall. He attended John C. Fremont High School in California.

College football career

USC Trojans

Don McCall played college football as a running back for the USC Trojans from 1965 to 1966, appearing in 20 games across those two seasons. In 1965, he carried the ball 38 times for 125 yards and one touchdown. His production increased significantly in 1966, when he rushed 105 times for 468 yards and four touchdowns, placing him among the top performers in the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) in categories such as rushing attempts (eighth), yards (sixth), yards per attempt (sixth), rushing touchdowns (fifth), and total points (sixth). Over his USC career, McCall accumulated 593 rushing yards on 143 attempts with five touchdowns and no recorded receiving statistics. His collegiate performance contributed to his selection in the 1967 NFL draft.

Professional football career

New Orleans Saints

Don McCall was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round (108th overall) of the 1967 NFL Draft following his college career at USC. As a running back, he became an original member of the expansion franchise. In his 1967 rookie season, McCall appeared in 14 games and saw limited action, rushing for 86 yards on 21 attempts with one touchdown while also catching four passes for 75 yards and another score. His most productive year came in 1968, when he appeared in 13 games and led the Saints in rushing with 637 yards on 155 attempts, averaging 4.1 yards per carry, along with four rushing touchdowns. McCall added 26 receptions for 270 yards and two receiving touchdowns that season, giving him six total touchdowns, which ranked second on the team. He recorded a career-high 127 rushing yards in a victory over the Washington Redskins. McCall was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 1969 season but returned to New Orleans in 1970, where he played in the final two games of the campaign. In those contests, he rushed for 63 yards on 23 attempts with one touchdown and caught five passes for 43 yards.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Don McCall was traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers from the New Orleans Saints just before the 1969 season. He appeared in 13 games for Pittsburgh that year, primarily as a reserve running back with no starts. In his role with the team, McCall carried the ball 30 times for 98 yards, averaging 3.3 yards per attempt, with no rushing touchdowns and a longest run of 14 yards. He also had 2 receptions for 2 yards. He contributed on special teams as a kick returner, handling 21 kickoffs for 532 yards, a 25.3-yard average, a long of 101 yards, and one touchdown return. This marked his only season with the Steelers before he returned to the New Orleans Saints in 1970.

Career statistics

Don McCall played four seasons in the National Football League from 1967 to 1970, appearing in 42 games. His career statistical totals include 229 rushing attempts for 884 yards, averaging 3.9 yards per carry, along with 37 receptions for 390 yards, averaging 10.5 yards per reception. These figures were accumulated across his tenures with the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers. McCall scored 10 touchdowns in total during his professional career, including 6 rushing touchdowns, 3 receiving touchdowns, and 1 touchdown on a kick return. His weighted career Approximate Value, a measure of overall contribution relative to league peers, stands at 11.

Media and acting appearances

Film

Don McCall made his only credited appearance in a narrative film with a role in the 1969 sports drama Number One. In the film, directed by Tom Gries and starring Charlton Heston as veteran quarterback Ron Catlan of the New Orleans Saints, McCall is credited as "New Orleans Saints." This casting drew directly from his career as a running back for the New Orleans Saints, where he was active during the 1967–1968 seasons around the time of the film's production. The movie incorporated several real-life Saints players in small roles or cameos to enhance the authenticity of its football sequences. No further narrative film credits are recorded for McCall.

Television

Don McCall appeared as himself in television sports broadcasts tied to his active playing career in college and the NFL. These were non-scripted appearances in live or recorded game coverage, rather than fictional roles. He was credited in the 1967 Rose Bowl TV special as Self – USC Trojans Halfback during his time with the University of Southern California team. McCall also featured in 10 episodes of The NFL on CBS from 1967 to 1970, billed as Self in varying capacities that reflected his team affiliations and position: Self – New Orleans Saints Halfback, Self – Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back, and Self – New Orleans Saints Running Back. These credits aligned with his professional stints with the New Orleans Saints (1967–1968 and 1970) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1969).

Post-football career and personal life

Later professional work

After retiring from professional football, Don McCall began a career with the Los Angeles Police Department. He later transitioned to the transportation department, where he served as a respected supervisor. This post-football professional path followed his earlier retirement from the NFL after four seasons.

Family and personal details

Don McCall was married to Shirley McCall until his death. The couple had one child, a son named Donald McCall Jr. McCall stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall. In his later years, he resided in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Death

Death and legacy

Don McCall died on January 17, 2025, at the age of 80 at his home in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The former NFL running back, an original member of the New Orleans Saints expansion team, left a legacy tied to his contributions during the franchise's early years in the late 1960s. His passing was noted in sports media and local obituaries, reflecting his place in professional football history.
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