Malone was a star out of El Cajon Valley High School near San Diego, California, which ranged from baseball to basketball to track to football, which he had only started playing as a freshman.

[2][3] He was a two-year starter at Arizona State University and was chosen by the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 28th pick in the 1980 NFL draft.

The 1981 season saw him take a few reps on various sides, although a preseason injury led to a gradual deterioration in his right knee.

The 1984 season saw him take the brunt of playing time as the Steelers attempted to deal with the changeover from Bradshaw (who had retired after 1983).

The Steelers went 9-7 (which included giving the San Francisco 49ers their only loss that year), which was good enough for a wild card spot and a matchup against the Denver Broncos that saw Malone tapped to start.

He had two early fumbles that were recovered by Denver, but he went 17-of-28 for 224 yards and threw a touchdown pass that tied the game in the third quarter before Pittsburgh pulled away in the fourth to win 24–17.

The Divisional Round win gave Pittsburgh a berth in the 1984 AFC Championship Game against the Miami Dolphins.

Malone ultimately never started a full season for the team due to injuries, which ranged from a dislocated big toe to a ripped elbow that needed staples.

Malone stated later that he tried to not let the fans get to him as he had seen with Stoudt years earlier, but he instead got wound up too tight in trying to press early.

A swollen thumb as a result of striking a helmet on an incomplete pass saw him miss the next two games for Brister.

When asked about him, Bradshaw had stated that Malone had adequate skills, but that "he can't carry a football team.

[10][11][12] In 2019, Malone covered the Alliance of American Football for Bleacher Report Live as a play-by-play announcer.