Two Years, two teams, two Super Bowls berths.Welcome to the NFL Nick McDonald.
McDonald hasn't been a huge piece of the puzzle during his two Super Bowl runs with the Packers and Patriots. He was inactive for all of 2010 with the Packers. He was an emergency starter for the Patriots in two games this season against the Colts and Redskins, but is now back to his reserve role.
The fact that McDonald has even been in a position to already win one ring and possibly another on Sunday is the real story, though.
A family friend, Gail Joseph, took the Sterling Heights native in when he was 14 years old after his mother passed away from cancer and his father left.
McDonald credits both Joseph and his high school football coach at Henry Ford II, Butch Wagner, with being instrumental to him standing on the Lucas Oil Field turf for Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.
"Those are probably my biggest influences growing up," he said. "Just kind of getting me on the right path and doing the right thing."
McDonald's high school jersey is retired at Henry Ford II.
Maybe it's him. Maybe it's luck. But the teams McDonald plays for just win.
McDonald won three Division II National Championships at Grand Valley State, losing only four games in his entire five-year career.
McDonald went undrafted in the 2010 and caught on with the Packers as a free agent. The Packers waived him during the team's final cuts before this season. He was signed to the Patriots' practice squad and eventually made the active roster when the team suffered a string of injuries at center.
"It's been a crazy ride," he said. "Coming from a smaller school and even before that with the things I dealt with in my life."
McDonald said he'd never forget his first career NFL start this year against the Colts.
"I finally got my opportunity and I was going to make the most of it," he said of the Patriots 31-24 victory. "I was so excited. I've never been that excited. What's better than the New England Patriots and snapping the ball to Tom Brady for your first start. There's nothing better than that."
Maybe winning a second championship ring on Sunday could compete?
