Jim Donovan, Beloved Former WKYC Sports Anchor and Cleveland Browns Radio Voice, Dies at 68

CLEVELAND — Jim Donovan, the iconic Cleveland sportscaster who was on WKYC for 39 years and the Browns radio voice for 25 seasons, has died at age 68 after a long, heroic battle with cancer.

Jimmy is survived by his beloved wife Cheryl and daughter Meghan.

Jimmy retired as a 3News sports and news anchor in June of this year after a remarkable tenure that began in 1985.

“It's been an amazing run, and I'm grateful for the support from our viewers, Browns fans, my colleagues and everyone else who's been a part of this journey. I'm looking forward to spending more time with Cheryl and my daughter Megan,” Jimmy said. said when retiring from WKYC.

RELATED: REVIEW: 'Celebrating a Legend,' Tribute to Jim Donovan as He Retires from WKYC

He had plans to continue as the “Voice of the Browns” and called the team's three preseason games before announcing his retirement from the radio booth before the start of the regular season in September because his cancer had returned “very aggressively.”

“Not a day goes by that I don't stop and be so proud to be “The Voice of the Browns,” Jimmy said in his heartfelt note to fans. “Cheryl (Jimmy's wife), Meghan (Jimmy's daughter) and I thank my rough For all your love, support and prayers during the patch. It's like having a huge family around us. And that's what makes the Cleveland Browns so special. you do.”

James Francis Donovan III was born in 1956 in Boston. He graduated from Boston University, where he worked with future broadcasting legend, radio host Howard Stern. Jimmy served as radio sports director at WJON in St. Cloud, Minn., before returning to New England to work at WVMT radio, WEZF-TV and the satellite New Channel, where he polished his skills as an anchor, reporter. , and the play-by-play announcer.

In 1985 at the age of 29, Jimmy came to Cleveland to become the weekend sports anchor at WKYC. A year later, he became 3News' lead sports anchor, a role he held until last summer.

While becoming a fixture here in Cleveland, Jimmy began receiving national exposure in 1987, when he was tapped by NBC to direct play-by-play for NFL games. He would remain in that role until 1997, when television rights to AFC games moved from NBC to CBS. In addition to his NFL work, Jimmy directed play-by-play for several events during NBC's coverage of the 1992 and 1996 Summer Olympics.

In 1999, the Cleveland Browns returned to the NFL as an expansion franchise after the team moved to Baltimore four years earlier. Jimmy was tapped to serve as the team's radio play-by-play announcer along with color analyst Doug Dicken and sideline reporter Casey Coleman.

In Jimmy's 25 seasons as the “Voice of the Browns,” the team had just four winning seasons and three playoff appearances. Through numerous coaching changes, front office shakeups, and losing seasons, Jimmy has been one constant fans have always been able to count on every Sunday. He loved being the Browns' radio play-by-play announcer, and the fans loved him in return.

Throughout his time as the Browns' radio voice, Jimmy provided excitement and context for some of the most memorable moments in franchise history.

“Run William Run” – Jimmy's epic call for William Green's touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons in the 2002 regular season finale, when the Browns made their first playoff appearance in the expansion era.

“Chubba Ubba Hub” – Jimmy always referred to Browns Nick Chubb as “my adopted son”. He liked to call Chubb's big moments, especially this 92-yard-touchdown run in 2018.

“The only thing that's missing? All of you!” – During the 2020 Covid year, the Browns, like the rest of the NFL, played in front of limited crowds. One of my all-time favorite Jimmy calls was from that season, when the Browns clinched their first playoff berth in 18 years, and he was thinking of the fans first.

While Jimmy was making his mark as the Browns' radio play-by-play announcer, he continued to expand his role at WKYC. After the station acquired the local, over-the-air television rights to the Cleveland Indians, Jimmy served as the play-by-play announcer from 2006-2008. And then in 2012, he expanded his duties at WKYC, becoming anchor of Channel 3's 7 pm newscast, and continuing his role as sports anchor.

Jimmy has won numerous awards during his illustrious career, including multiple Emmys, the Cleveland Press Club All-Ohio Best Sportscaster, the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Press Club Journalism Hall of Fame and the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards Lifetime Achievement Award. This fall, he was inducted into the 2024 Class of Cleveland Browns Legends and the 2024 Class of the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.

After being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2000, Jimmy began a decade-long battle with the disease that ultimately culminated in a bone-marrow transplant in the summer of 2011. His donor was a Virginia corrections officer named Dallas Gentry, who was a perfect 10-point match for Jimmy.

Just three months after his transplant, Jimmy made his triumphant return to the Browns broadcast booth at the start of the season. It was not an easy road back. In addition to battling a fever, Jimmy was diagnosed with melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, in his earlobe. Doctors surgically removed the wart.

Over the next decade, Jimmy would monitor his condition closely.

On May 31, 2023, Jimmy announced that his leukemia had relapsed.

“The problem started about a year and a half ago,” he explained during WKYC's 7 p.m. show. “I noticed something was wrong with my health. My concerns were confirmed and I was told I had leukemia again.”

Jimmy told viewers over the previous 18 months, he had been receiving treatment using both intravenous and oral chemotherapy. “For the most part, they've worked pretty well, but things change, and so we have to go with a different treatment plan — a more aggressive treatment plan, which has already started,” he added.

Following the Browns' 2023 season opener on September 11, 2023, Jimmy announced that he was taking a medical leave of absence from his radio and television duties as part of the next step in his treatment. Just over two months later, he made his triumphant return to the booth and anchor desk. As the Browns made their magical run to the playoffs, Jimmy was along for the ride. He was asked to “break out the guitar” before the Browns hosted Pittsburgh, and was given a game ball by head coach Kevin Stefanski after their win that afternoon.

As the Browns prepared to play the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card Game in January, Jimmy was asked to narrate a special hype video on the team's social media platform.

“Let the word get out to the NFL this postseason: Here come the Cleveland Browns – a tough, talented team that just won't give up,” Jimmy said at the end of the video. “And I promise . . . I won't either.”

He never broke that promise.