Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Patrick Andres

Longtime Browns Radio Announcer Jim Donovan Dies After Lengthy Cancer Battle

Jim Donovan in 2019. | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Jim Donovan—the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Browns—died Friday in Cleveland, the Browns announced Saturday. He was 68.

"Jim provided so much joy and love to this city. His steady presence on the radio for Browns games and on television for nightly news made it feel like he was an extended family member for all those that tuned in," Cleveland said in a statement. "His signature calls will be forever embedded in Browns history."

Donovan battled chronic lymphocytic leukemia on and off for decades, and announced his immediate retirement from calling Browns games on Aug. 29.

He served as Cleveland's radio play-by-play announcer from its 1999 return to 2023.

The Boston native called NFL games on national television for NBC from 1987 to '97. He also worked two Olympics and the 1994 World Cup.

On a day-to-day basis, Donovan served as a sports and news anchor for WKYC-TV in Cleveland from 1986 to 2024.


More of the Latest Around the NFL


This article was originally published on www.si.com as Longtime Browns Radio Announcer Jim Donovan Dies After Lengthy Cancer Battle.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.