On a crisp November Sunday afternoon in 2023, longtime Cleveland Browns radio announcer Jim Donovan surprised Cleveland Browns fans by being the guest of honor to smash the guitar of that day’s Browns opponent as a pregame ritual. The 70,000 plus crowd at the stadium erupted in cheers knowing the journey that Jim had endured.

Jim’s battle with cancer began over 11 years ago with a bone marrow transplant. His cancer went into remission until the fall 2023. Donovan announced after the Browns opening game in 2023 that he will be away from the broadcast booth. His cancer returned and he needed undergo treatment to fight the life-threatening disease. Donovan returned to the broadcast booth on November 17th ,2023, against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Jim did retire from WKYC as a sports anchor/reporter in the spring of 2024. At WKYC is where I had the pleasure of working with Jim Donovan.

In the summer of 2000, I got my first job in media at WKYC Channel 3 in Cleveland as a photographer and editor. I met Jim Donovan on my first day of work and he was always one nicest people to work with in that building. He was kind enough to do the voice over of my cellphone greeting in 2003. Later I developed a friendship with his daughter Meghan. Jim Donovan’s excellence as a play-by-play broadcaster for the Cleveland Browns was the most consistent in the last 25 years since the team’s rebirth.

Even though Jim Donovan retired from WKYC as a sports anchor/reporter, he did plan on continuing as the voice of the Cleveland Browns. However, it was announced on August 29th that his cancer returned aggressively, and he must retire from the broadcast booth as well. He will need undergo more treatment to aid in his fight with cancer. Cleveland Browns games on the radio will not be the same without Jim Donovan’s voice calling the game. Not only are our thoughts and prayers with Jim Donovan and his family, but our hearts are with him as well. Thank you, Jimmy!