Jim Donovan, longtime voice of the Browns, dies at 68

Jim Donovan, who has been the Cleveland Browns’ radio announcer since the franchise’s return in 1999, has died at the age of 68.

Just before this season began, Donovan announced that he would have to step away from broadcasting and focus fully on his health. Donovan was first diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2000.

“This is an extremely difficult day for us and the entire Cleveland Browns organization,” Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Donovan. His impact as Voice of the Browns for 25 years is immeasurable as he touched the lives of our fans every Sunday with his love of the Browns and his brilliance in his craft.”

Donovan also called national broadcasts of NFL games and the Olympics for NBC in the 1980s and 1990s.