Sports general assignment reporter/sports columnist

Jerry Mcdonald

Jerry McDonald is a Bay Area News Group sports general assignment writer and columnist for The Mercury News and East Bay Times with more than 40 years of experience. His duties include a concentration on the NFL and Major League Baseball. He graduated from San Jose State University with a BA degree in journalism.

Forward Luka Dončić shoots over Brandin Podziemski in the first half of a Warriors' home game against the Lakers Saturday night at Chase Center.

Lakers take charge early, never look back in blowing out Warriors

March 2, 2026 at 4:41 a.m.

The Warriors were never really in the game Saturday night in a big loss to Lakers at Chase Center.

Warriors forward Gui Santos (15) delivers a dunk in a win over the Denver Nuggets.

Warriors sign Gui Santos to multi-year contract extension with Lakers up next

March 2, 2026 at 4:46 a.m.

Warriors forward Gui Santos has stepped up when needed and got a new contract because of it.

Warriors forward Draymond Green is expected to play Saturday night when the Los Angeles Lakers and Luka Doncic come to town.

Draymond Green likely to face Lakers, Kristaps Porzingis is questionable

March 2, 2026 at 11:08 a.m.

Lakers come to Chase Center having lost three games in a row and are in sixth place.

Raiders' defensive end Maxx Crosby is the subject of trade rumors but don't expect it to happen with the 49ers.

10 pitfalls the 49ers should avoid this offseason

February 19, 2026 at 5:50 a.m.

A friendly list of 10 things for the 49ers to avoid with the 2026 offseason officially underway.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold celebrates after defeating the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl 60 football game, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, in Santa Clara, Calif. (BRYNN ANDERSON — AP Photo)

Sam Darnold scores big for ‘system quarterbacks’ and ‘game managers’ with Super Bowl LX victory

February 10, 2026 at 12:52 p.m.

Sam Darnold delivered with his arm to win the NFC Championship. He delivered with his head to win Super Bowl LX.

Defensive end Keion White of the 49ers celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 16 in Glendale, Ariz.

49ers' Keion White shot in early morning hours in San Francisco

February 10, 2026 at 9:14 a.m.

A San Francisco 49ers defensive end, Keion White, was shot in the ankle early Monday in San Francisco, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and is recovering as police investigate the shooting with...

Cris Collinsworth (left) and Mike Tirico during the pregame show of Super Bowl 60 Sunday at Levi's Stadium.

NBC’s Collinsworth-Tirico duo worked, but couldn’t overcome non-competitive Super Bowl 60

February 9, 2026 at 9:15 a.m.

NBC did all it could in a non-competitive Super Bowl 60

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joins linebacker Fred Warner at the broadcast table before Super Bowl 60 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, Fred Warner make their voices heard before Super Bowl 60

February 9, 2026 at 7:36 a.m.

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and linebacker Fred Warner relived some painful memories as part of the Super Bowl 60 pregame show on NBC.

Coach Bill Walsh is lifted by his teammates after the 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins at Stanford Stadium to win the Super Bowl on Jan. 20, 1985.

Path to Super Bowl 60: `Rise of the 49ers’ was bittersweet because it will never happen again

February 7, 2026 at 4:21 p.m.

Enjoy the nostalgia of `Rise of the 49ers' because the franchise will never repeat a dynasty that earned five Lombardi Trophies.

Joe Montana (16) was the Most Valuable Player in Super Bowl XIX at Stanford Stadium on Jan, 20, 1985 against the Miami Dolphins.

Super Bowl LX: Two previous Bay Area matchups weren’t close

February 6, 2026 at 11:35 a.m.

The Bay Area plays host to its third Super Bowl when the Seattle Seahawks face the New England Patriots.

Breaking News

Palma graduate Dalman to retire from NFL