Terry McDaniel played for the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders for ten of 11 NFL seasons. The Raiders drafted McDaniel with the ninth pick in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee, where he was All-SEC in 1987. McDaniel also ran track at Tennessee and set school records in 300-meter and 300-yard dashes.
College
McDaniel came to Tennessee as a receiver and did not switch to cornerback until 1985. Although, as a senior, McDaniel had 57 tackles, two interceptions, and eight pass breakups., he was named All-SEC and 2nd team All-American. He had 11 pass breakups and six interceptions in his time at Tennessee.
NFL
McDaniel missed most of his rookie season with a leg injury with the Raiders. In his second season, he became a starter, picked off three passes, and had one sack. McDaniel made his first of five straight Pro Bowls in 1992. In 1994, he had seven interceptions and returned two for a touchdown against the New England Patriots. The cornerback picked off Drew Bledsoe three times.
From 1992 to 1996, the former Raider picked off 27 passes. 1997, McDaniel struggled with knee issues and was released before the 1998 season. In the 1998 season, McDaniel moved on to play for the Seattle Seahawks.
Growing up, I was a Raiders fan, and Terry McDaniel and Tim Brown were my favorite players. McDaniel was one of the best shutdown corners in the mid-1990s; McDaniel had 35 interceptions for 667 yards with six touchdowns in his career. He made the Pro Bowl five times and was a four-time All-Pro.
McDaniel does not get the recognition he deserves as one of the top corners in NFL history, but his numbers speak for themselves. He may never get to the NFL Hall of Fame, but he is deserving.
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