A second-round pick in the 1987 NFL draft, he played for the St. Louis / Phoenix Cardinals (1987–1992) and the San Francisco 49ers (1993–1999).
[1] At Edison, McDonald was named a prep All-American, All-California, All-Northern California, all-metro and league MVP at both safety and quarterback.
McDonald is one of only six safeties named on the Walter Camp All-Century Team[2] selected in 1999, celebrating the greatest college football players of the twentieth century.
In 1993, McDonald would again perform at a high level being named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad.
During that season, he donated $2,000 for every 49ers victory to the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Bay Area, netting $22,000 for those organizations.
McDonald's finest statistical season as a 49er was in 1998 as he tallied 133 total tackles, 4 sacks, 4 INTs, 15 passes defensed, and 2 fumble recoveries.
[7] After one season at Fresno State Mcdonald was signed as a DB coach for the New York Jets under Rex Ryan.
Tevin was dismissed from UCLA, Jim Mora citing his release as a violation of team rules and transferred to Eastern Washington University; he went undrafted in the 2015 draft and was signed by the Oakland Raiders as a free agent.