Tim McDonald (born January 6, 1965 in Fresno, California) was a former football player who played strong safety in the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the second round (34th pick overall) of the 1987 NFL Draft. He signed as a free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on April 7, 1993 and was a six-time Pro Bowler where he helped the 49ers win the Super Bowl XXIX, and retired after the 1999 season.

He attended the University of Southern California, and majored in business administration at what is now the Marshall School of Business. As a three year starter, he accumlated 325 tackles and 11 interceptions. He was a consensus All-American as a senior in 1986, and followed a prominent list of All-American safeties who attended USC such as Ronnie Lott, Dennis Smith, and Mark Carrier.