CLEVELAND — Jim Donovan loved to tell stories and laugh.
A sense of humor and an unwavering commitment to honesty made Donovan an iconic Browns radio play-by-play announcer , and the team celebrated the legendary broadcaster's life Sunday with a 29-24 upset win over the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens at Huntington Bank Field.
“He was special. That's for sure. He's on the Mount Rushmore of announcers,” Doug Dieken , a former longtime Browns left tackle and radio color analyst who worked alongside Donovan for 23 seasons, said during a phone interview with the Beacon Journal.
Donovan died Saturday morning at the age of 68 after a long battle with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Still, his presence permeated the lakefront stadium a day later.
A video tribute featuring some of Donovan's most popular calls drew a standing ovation while the Browns played it on their scoreboards before kickoff.
The press box and radio booth were outfitted with flowers and photographs of Donovan, the former longtime sports director at WKYC-TV Channel 3. The display in the radio booth was turned toward the field, so fans could see it from the stands.
In coach Kevin Stefanski's postgame locker room speech and postgame news conference, he vowed to present a game ball to Donovan's wife, Cheryl, and daughter, Meghan. Later Sunday, Stefanski and General Manager Andrew Berry made good on the promise.
Browns fans who knew Donovan as the soundtrack of the expansion era could probably hear him calling quarterback Jameis Winston's 38-yard, game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Cedric Tillman if they were to close their eyes and indulge their imaginations.
Some of them undoubtedly thought the spirit of Donovan had a hand in the Browns (2-6) snapping a five-game losing streak .
As color commentator Nathan Zegura and play-by-play man Andrew Siciliano became choked up in the radio booth Donovan dominated for decades, Zegura noted, “So many things happened in this game that are unexplainable.”
On the Browns' first possession of the game, Winston threw a would-be interception directly to Ravens safety Eddie Jackson, but he dropped the ball in the end zone with 2:02 left in the opening quarter. Three plays later, the Browns took a 3-0 lead with Dustin Hopkins' 28-yard field goal with 37 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
In another odd moment, Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton bobbled and dropped what would have been a game-clinching interception for Baltimore (5-3) with 1:04 left in the fourth quarter. Tillman's heroic TD catch occurred on the next play.
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Also, Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman broke free on a scramble drill, only to drop a deep third-down pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson at the Cleveland 34-yard line with 9:18 remaining. As a result, the Ravens punted, and the Browns responded when Hopkins made a 48-yard field goal to give them a 23-17 lead with 4:55 left.
It wasn't just any successful field goal, though. The ball deflected off the right upright before it went through. Off mic, Browns press box public address announcer Jeff Kurtz said, “Jimmy Donovan with the nudge.”
As so many did, Stefanski considered Donovan a friend. When the coach was asked whether Donovan should be credited for some of the plays in Sunday's game, Stefanski said, “Sure, absolutely. I think Jim would appreciate that.”
Winston, defensive end Myles Garrett and left guard Joel Bitonio are among the Browns players who spoke about the memory of Donovan inspiring the team.
“It was obviously heartbreaking for us, but it was very special that we found a way to get a win for him and get him a game ball this week,” Bitonio said.
Like their fans, Browns players of past and present cherished Donovan. When Dieken visited a tiny bar in Avon Lake on Saturday night, countless patrons extended their condolences.
“The guy meant a lot to a lot of people,” Dieken said.
It's easy to see why.
Donovan made time for others. He always went out of his way to say hi and chat. He gave compliments and asked for opinions. He held court and thrived amid lively banter. He talked about good food he experienced on Browns road trips and his passion for Dunkin' coffee. He described the chores he did at his Hinckley Township home. Although the Boston native had big-city roots, he owned a barn in Northeast Ohio because his wife loves horses.
“He was doing the sports and shoveling s***. Sometimes you couldn't tell the difference,” Dieken said with a laugh.
Yes, Donovan was much better than the Browns teams he covered.
Donovan became the voice of the Browns during their rebirth in 1999. He and Dieken were paired with other people for auditions, but they were ultimately chosen to form a tandem. They worked just two playoff seasons together before Dieken retired in January 2022. Donovan completed his 25th season in 2023, when he called the Browns making the postseason for the third time since their expansion kicked off.
Donovan retired from WKYC in June and from the Browns in August. In a letter released to fans on Aug. 29, he wrote his cancer had “returned and very aggressively.”
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Like Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas, returner Josh Cribbs and kicker Phil Dawson, Donovan consistently displayed individual excellence despite being surrounded by losing football. Thomas attended Sunday's game. Dawson was inducted into the Browns Legends with Donovan on Sept. 22.
“He wasn't afraid to say what he thought,” Dieken said of Donovan. “It wasn't like, 'Well, if I say this, I might lose my job.' Jimmy didn't speak with a forked tongue.
“He kept it real. He said what was happening, but he entertained you as he was doing it.”
Boy, Dieken got a kick out of it, too. He likened himself to Ed McMahon sitting next to Johnny Carson. The energy Donovan blasted onto the airwaves came with a physical element.
“I'm watching the greatest show on Earth — Jimmy,” Dieken said. “He's got the hand gestures. He's waving. You'd think he had a chipmunk in his shorts. I mean, he was all over the place. He had moves for everything that was going on down on the field. His gestures were telling the same story that he was reciting.”
Donovan routinely walked through Browns headquarters and around their practice fields reciting things to himself in preparation for TV segments. His professionalism earned him immeasurable respect on the local and national levels.
Cleveland sports fans have been fortunate to listen to amazing radio broadcasters for generations. You know the names of those who have painted beautiful pictures of Browns, Cavaliers and Guardians games, but this is about Donovan. He established his own voice, and it will live on forever. The Browns honored him accordingly on an emotional Sunday.
Thank you, Jim.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns celebrate Jim Donovan's life, honor iconic broadcaster accordingly in win | Ulrich
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