Player
Vance McDonald
TE (retired)
Vance McDonald: facts drawn from the play-by-play.
8 NFL seasons. 2,036 receiving yards. The Big Ben-era PIT TE who stiff-armed Chris Conte into NFL legend.
MilestoneCareer regular-season totals
| Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Seasons | 8 (2013-2020) |
| Games | 87 |
| Receptions | 181 |
| Receiving Yards | 2,036 |
| Receiving TDs | 15 |
| Y/R | 11.2 |
His 2018 PIT year (50-610-4) was his peak — 4 years in PIT after underwhelming in SF.
TrendMcDonald year-by-year
| Year | Tm | Rec | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | SF | 8 | 119 | 0 |
| 2014 | SF | 2 | 30 | 0 |
| 2015 | SF | 30 | 326 | 3 |
| 2016 | SF | 24 | 391 | 4 |
| 2017 | PIT | 14 | 188 | 1 |
| 2018 | PIT | 50 | 610 | 4 |
| 2019 | PIT | 38 | 273 | 3 |
| 2020 | PIT | 15 | 99 | 0 |
Receiving yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 326 |
| 2016 | 391 |
| 2017 | 188 |
| 2018 | 610 |
| 2019 | 273 |
| 2020 | 99 |
SF era: 866 yards in 4 years. PIT era: 1,170 yards in 4 years.
SplitMcDonald career splits
| Stop | Years | Rec | Yds |
|---|---|---|---|
| SF | 2013-2016 | 64 | 866 |
| PIT | 2017-2020 | 117 | 1,170 |
His Wk 8 2018 stiff-arm of Chris Conte is among the most-replayed TE highlights of the 2010s.
RareThe Stiff-Arm Game
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Date | Oct 28, 2018 |
| Opponent | CLE |
| Reception yards | 75 (career-long-tier) |
| Conte status | Concussed |
| Replay status | Iconic |
His 2018 50-610-4 line was the best PIT TE production since Heath Miller's prime.
ComparisonRecent PIT TE peak years
| TE | Year | Yds |
|---|---|---|
| Heath Miller | 2012 | 816 |
| Heath Miller | 2013 | 593 |
| Vance McDonald | 2018 | 610 |
| Eric Ebron | 2020 | 558 |
He retired at age 30 in 2021 — citing family priorities, not injury.
AnomalyMcDonald retirement
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Retirement year | 2021 |
| Age at retirement | 30 |
| Reason | Family / not injury |
| Last season | 2020 (PIT) |
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