Tom Donovan (American football)

Last updated

Tom Donovan
No. 86, 87
Position: Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1957-01-13) January 13, 1957 (age 67)
Queens, New York, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:179 lb (81 kg)
Career information
High school: Holy Family
College: Penn State
NFL draft: 1980  / Round: 9 / Pick: 230
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Player stats at PFR

Thomas Edward Donovan (born January 13, 1957) is a former American football wide receiver who was on the playing roster for the New Orleans Saints for a season in 1980. He played in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Philadelphia Stars and Baltimore Stars between 1983 and 1985.

Donovan played college football at Penn State University. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] He was a ninth round draft pick (pick #230) in the 1980 NFL draft, selected by the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs traded him to the New Orleans Saints, where he remained on the team roster but never played a game. He was delisted at the end of the 1980 season.

In 1983 he was drafted by the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL’s inaugural season, where the Stars won their division and played in the USFL Championship Game. He caught 37 passes for 559 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns in his USFL career.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Football League</span> American football league (1983–1986)

The United States Football League (USFL) was a professional American football league that played for three seasons, 1983 through 1985. The league played a spring/summer schedule in each of its active seasons. The 1986 season was scheduled to be played in the autumn/winter, directly competing against the long-established National Football League (NFL). However, the USFL ceased operations before that season was scheduled to begin.

The Birmingham Stallions were a franchise in the United States Football League, an attempt to establish a second professional league of American football in the United States in competition with the National Football League. They played their home games at Birmingham, Alabama's Legion Field. They competed in all three USFL seasons, 1983–1985. During their run, they were one of the USFL's more popular teams, and seemed to have a realistic chance of being a viable venture had the USFL been better run.

Charles Anthony Fusina is an American former football quarterback who played for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) and United States Football League (USFL) from 1979 to 1986. He played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, and was recognized as an All-American. Fusina played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, and the Philadelphia / Baltimore Stars of the USFL.

Gary Wayne Barbaro is a former safety who played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1976 to 1982 and one season in the United States Football League (USFL) in 1984. A third round selection by the Kansas City Chiefs from Nicholls State University, he had 39 career interceptions and was selected to participate in three Pro Bowls.

Michael Francis Mayock Sr. is a former American football executive and player in the National Football League (NFL). He played as a safety with the New York Giants. After his playing career, he was a draft analyst for the NFL Network, and a game analyst for NBC's coverage of Notre Dame football. He served as the general manager of the Las Vegas Raiders from 2019 to 2021.

Vaughan Monroe Johnson was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles. He also was a member of the Jacksonville Bulls in the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football for the NC State Wolfpack.

Bruce M. Clark is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 10 seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and National Football League (NFL) during the 1980s. Clark played college football for the Penn State Nittany Lions, earning All-American honors. He was the fourth pick overall in the 1980 NFL draft, but chose to play for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts before joining the NFL's New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

Scott Allison Woerner is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. In the 1981 Sugar Bowl, Woerner intercepted a pass by the Notre Dame quarterback in the closing minutes of the game which sealed Georgia's national championship for that year. He still holds several return records at the University of Georgia. He had the most kickoff return yards (190) in a single game. He also holds the most punt return yards (488) in a season (1980). Woerner was drafted in the third round of the 1981 NFL Draft by the Falcons. He played for the Atlanta Falcons during that 1981 season and was their leading punt returner. The Falcons cut him before the start of the 1982 season. In 1983, 1984, and 1985 he played safety for the Philadelphia Stars of the short-lived United States Football League (USFL). The Philadelphia Stars won 2 of the 3 USFL championships. The Sporting News selected him as a USFL All-League player both of those seasons. Woerner played briefly for the New Orleans Saints during the NFL Players Strike.

Dale Markham is a former player in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals in 1980 and 1981 as a tackle and defensive end. He played at the collegiate level at the University of North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stefen Wisniewski</span> American football player (born 1989)

Stefen David Wisniewski is a former American football guard and center. He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Daren K. Gilbert was an American professional football player who was an offensive tackle for four seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the New Orleans Saints. After playing college football for Cal State Fullerton, the Saints selected him in the second round of the 1985 NFL draft. During his four-year NFL career, Gilbert appeared in 42 games.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse James (tight end)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Jesse Dylan James is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State, and was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders.

Matt Bradley was an American football linebacker who played one season in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Philadelphia Stars and Boston Breakers. He was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the ninth round of the 1982 NFL Draft. He played college football at Penn State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Coleman</span> American football player (born 1994)

Corey Defians Coleman is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2015. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Shareef Abdul Miller is an American football outside linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juwan Johnson</span> American football player (born 1996)

Juwan Johnson is an American football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State and Oregon and signed with the Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Rowland</span> American football player (born 1997)

Chris Rowland is an American football wide receiver for the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). Rowland played college football for the Tennessee State Tigers. After college, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2020. Rowland also played for the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Stars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 USFL season</span> Inaugural season of the USFL (2022)

The 2022 USFL season was the inaugural season of the United States Football League, and the first season of a league using that name since 1985. The season began on April 16 and concluded on July 3. The league's eight teams represent various geographical locales and associated team names that were part of the 1984 season of the original USFL. For 2022, all regular-season games were played in Birmingham, Alabama, at Protective Stadium and at Legion Field.

Cleveland Lee Jackson is a former American football tight end who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants. He played college football for three different schools before being selected in the 5th round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He also spent time in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins, in the Canadian Football League (CFL) for the BC Lions, and in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Arizona Wranglers and Oklahoma Outlaws, but did not play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darnell Holland</span> American football player (born 1996)

Darnell Holland is an American football running back for the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League (IFL). He played college football at Kennesaw State. He played for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL) from 2022 to 2023.

References

  1. "Tom Donovan Stats". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  2. "Tom Donovan, WR". Nfl.com. Retrieved September 30, 2019.
  3. "Tom Donovan Statistics on JustSportsStats.com". www.justsportsstats.com.
  4. "All-PennState_1970-79". Nittanyanthology.com. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
  5. "Philadelphia Stars:; U.S.F.L. STARS LEAN HEAVILY ON PENN STATE TALENT". The New York Times .