Art Donovan
The jovial Marine veteran who anchored the greatest defense in NFL history.
via Wikipedia: Art Donovan · see source
Arthur James "Fatso" Donovan Jr. was an American professional football player who played defensive tackle for three NFL teams, primarily the Baltimore Colts. Born on June 5, 1924, he attended Boston College before serving in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, fighting in the Pacific Theatre at battles like Luzon and Iwo Jima. After the war, he completed his college career and began his professional journey. Donovan became a star on an outstanding Colts defense, leading them to back-to-back championships in 1958 and 1959. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.
- Position
- Defensive Tackle
- Pro Bowl Selections
- Five (consecutive, 1953–1957)
- Hall of Fame Induction
- 1968
- Jersey Number
- 70
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Donovan's career began with turbulence, playing for teams that folded within his first three seasons: the original Baltimore Colts (1950), Cleveland Browns, and New York Yanks/Dallas Texans. After the Texans franchise collapsed, he joined the reformed Baltimore Colts in 1953. There, he became a defensive star, earning five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1953 through 1957 and four straight first-team All-Pro honors from 1954 to 1957. He is best remembered for his role in the "Greatest Game Ever Played," the 1958 NFL Championship against the New York Giants. In overtime, Donovan made a crucial tackle that stopped the Giants, allowing Johnny Unitas to lead an 80-yard scoring drive for the win. This contest was the first NFL game to go into overtime and drew 40 million viewers.
In Their Own Story
The stage was set on December 28, 1958, at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. Donovan, playing without a helmet in some early moments of his career as depicted on football cards, faced off against the New York Giants. The game ended in a 17–17 tie after regulation, forcing the first-ever overtime in NFL history. During this historic extra period, Donovan delivered an important tackle that halted the Giants' momentum. This stop paved the way for Johnny Unitas to orchestrate an 80-yard scoring drive that secured the championship for the Colts. Donovan was one of 12 Hall of Fame players on the field that day, six of whom were from the Colts. His performance helped cement his legacy as a runner-up for best defensive tackle on the NFL 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Reader's Guide
Donovan played 12 seasons and 138 games in the NFL. He was selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls (1953–1957) and named first-team All-Pro four times consecutively (1954–1957). In 1968, he became the first Colt inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Post-retirement, Donovan capitalized on his jovial reputation with numerous television appearances, including ten spots on Late Night with David Letterman and several on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He co-hosted the popular Baltimore show "Braase, Donovan, Davis and Fans" with teammate Ordell Braase. In 1987, he published his autobiography, "Fatso." His unique connection to the sport extended to wrestling, where he appeared at the WWF King of the Ring in 1994 alongside Gorilla Monsoon and Randy Savage.
Did You Know?
- Donovan served in the US Marine Corps during WWII as an ammo-loader on a 40mm gun aboard the USS San Jacinto.
- He was the first professional football player inducted into the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame (2004).
- Donovan owned and managed the Valley Country Club in Towson, Maryland, where he personally washed pots and pans despite being the owner.
- He appeared as a guest commentator at the 1994 WWF King of the Ring tournament but was famously uninformed about wrestling basics.