Pat Donovan (football player)
Encyclopedia
Patrick Emery Donovan is a former American football
offensive lineman in the National Football League
was spent with the Dallas Cowboys
(1975
-1983
). In 1975 Donovan was one of the "Dirty Dozen" of rookies who helped the Cowboys to Super Bowl X
. Donovan became a starter
at left tackle in 1978. He was a four-time Pro Bowl
er, attending the game in 1979
through 1982
. Sports Illustrated named him the 4th greatest Montana athlete of the 20th century.
While attending Class A Helena Central High School as a freshman and sophomore, he lettered in football
, basketball
and track and field
, winning the state shot put
title as a sophomore.
After Helena Central closed, Donovan attended Class AA Helena High School
, continuing to excel in track and field
at the Class AA level, winning the shot put
and discus
competitions at the state meet in both his junior and senior seasons. He also was fast enough to anchored the Helena
880-yard relay team to a state championship as a senior. He graduated as the holder of three school records in the shot put
, discus
and Javelin
competitions.
Donovan also lead Helena
to the state championship basketball
game as a junior and senior, losing to Kalispell in 1970 and winning against Billings West in 1971. He was named all tournament both years.
He went on to earn All-State honors on both offense and defense in football
, was an All-State basketball
player and won six first place medals at state track
meets.
In 1994 he was inducted into the Montana High School Association
Hall of Fame.
, he signed a football
scholarship to play at Stanford University
.
He was named the right defensive end
starter during his sophomore campaign and by the time he was a junior, he posted 109 tackles and was selected to the 1973 Consensus All-America
team and to the 1973 College Football All-America Team
.
As a senior, he was again selected to the 1974 Consensus All-America
team and to the 1974 College Football All-America Team
, becoming one of few two-time All Americans.
He was inducted into the Stanford
Athletic Hall of Fame and was also named to the Stanford
's All-Century football
team.
in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL Draft
as a defensive end
.
Donovan was one of 12 drafted rookies who made the team that year - hence the "Dirty Dozen
" nickname for the Cowboys 1975
draft, that helped the team reach Super Bowl X
.
The "Dirty Dozen
" rookie class, didn't even include linebacker
Mike Hegman
, who was drafted that year but did not arrive until 1976
. Or rookie free agent quarterback
Jim Zorn
who made the team, but was later cut, to make room for running back
Preston Pearson
, who had just been released by the Pittsburgh Steelers
.
In 1975
, the Cowboys needed help at offensive tackle and like defensive tackle Blaine Nye
a few years before him, he was switched to the offensive line. Donovan gained more weight and saw action at both left and right tackle.
After being a reserve for his first two seasons, he took over the right tackle job in 1977
when Rayfield Wright
went down with an injury and helped the team win Super Bowl XII
. He moved to left tackle when Ralph Neely
retired and Rayfield Wright
came back in 1978
.
Donovan emerged as one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL during the late 70s and early 80s and together with Herb Scott
formed one of the best left-side tandems in the league.
During his time with the Cowboys, center
John Fitzgerald nicknamed the Cowboys offensive line as the "Four Irishmen and a Scott", when it was formed by Donovan, Fitzgerald, Jim Cooper, Tom Rafferty
and Herb Scott
. That group helped paved the way for Tony Dorsett
's Hall of Fame rushing
career.
Donovan was a catalyst on the Cowboys offensive line and a four-time Pro Bowl
offensive lineman from 1979
to 1982
. He remains one of just four offensive tackles in club history to make at least four Pro Bowl
s, joining Rayfield Wright
(six), Flozell Adams
(five) and Erik Williams
(four).
Donovan hadn't suffered many major injuries for his entire career before the 1983 season
. After the season, because of the accumulation of wear and tear, he ended up needing surgery to repair both shoulders and decided to retired.
The Cowboys lost some big names after the 1983 season
with the retirement of Donovan, Harvey Martin
, Drew Pearson
and Billy Joe DuPree
.
Never missing a game, Donovan played in 9 seasons, 20 playoff games, including six NFC Championship Games and three Super Bowl
s, earning a title ring in Super Bowl XII
against the Denver Broncos
.
He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackles in the Cowboys franchise history.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
was spent with the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
(1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
-1983
1983 Dallas Cowboys season
The Dallas Cowboys completed the 1983 season with a record of 12 wins and 4 losses, finishing second in the NFC East. The team started the season with seven straight victories, including a memorable Monday night win over the Washington Redskins in which the team erased a 20 point halftime deficit...
). In 1975 Donovan was one of the "Dirty Dozen" of rookies who helped the Cowboys to Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
. Donovan became a starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
at left tackle in 1978. He was a four-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er, attending the game in 1979
1979 Pro Bowl
The 1979 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 29, 1979 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The final Score was NFC 13, AFC 7. Ahmad Rashad of the Minnesota Vikings was the game's MVP. As of 2011, this was the last Pro Bowl to be played on a Monday, and the last one to be...
through 1982
1982 Pro Bowl
The 1982 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 31, 1982 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 16, NFC 13. Kellen Winslow of the San Diego Chargers and Lee Roy Selmon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were the game's MVPs. The referee was Red Cashion....
. Sports Illustrated named him the 4th greatest Montana athlete of the 20th century.
Early years
Pat Donovan is considered to be one of the greatest athletes in the history of the state of Montana.While attending Class A Helena Central High School as a freshman and sophomore, he lettered in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, winning the state shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
title as a sophomore.
After Helena Central closed, Donovan attended Class AA Helena High School
Helena High School
Helena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
, continuing to excel in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
at the Class AA level, winning the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
competitions at the state meet in both his junior and senior seasons. He also was fast enough to anchored the Helena
Helena High School
Helena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
880-yard relay team to a state championship as a senior. He graduated as the holder of three school records in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
, discus
Discus throw
The discus throw is an event in track and field athletics competition, in which an athlete throws a heavy disc—called a discus—in an attempt to mark a farther distance than his or her competitors. It is an ancient sport, as evidenced by the 5th century BC Myron statue, Discobolus...
and Javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
competitions.
Donovan also lead Helena
Helena High School
Helena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
to the state championship basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
game as a junior and senior, losing to Kalispell in 1970 and winning against Billings West in 1971. He was named all tournament both years.
He went on to earn All-State honors on both offense and defense in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, was an All-State basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and won six first place medals at state track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
meets.
In 1994 he was inducted into the Montana High School Association
Montana High School Association
The Montana High School Association is the governing body of high school athletics in the state of Montana. It was founded in 1921 and today consists of 180+ member schools....
Hall of Fame.
College career
After leaving Helena High SchoolHelena High School
Helena High School is a public high school for grades 9 through 12 located in Helena, Montana. It is part of the Helena Public School District. Founded in September 1876, it is the oldest high school in the state of Montana.-Curriculum:...
, he signed a football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
scholarship to play at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
He was named the right defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
starter during his sophomore campaign and by the time he was a junior, he posted 109 tackles and was selected to the 1973 Consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
team and to the 1973 College Football All-America Team
1973 College Football All-America Team
The 1973 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
.
As a senior, he was again selected to the 1974 Consensus All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
team and to the 1974 College Football All-America Team
1974 College Football All-America Team
The 1974 College Football All-America team is composed of various organizations that choose College All-America teams that season. The organizations that chose the teams were Associated Press, United Press International, Newspaper Enterprise Association, Football Writers Association of America,...
, becoming one of few two-time All Americans.
He was inducted into the Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
Athletic Hall of Fame and was also named to the Stanford
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
's All-Century football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team.
Professional career
Donovan was selected by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the fourth round of the 1975 NFL Draft
1975 NFL Draft
The 1975 National Football League Draft was held on January 28–29, 1975.-Player selections:-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:-Round five:-Round six:-Round seven:-Round eight:-Round nine:-Round ten:...
as a defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
.
Donovan was one of 12 drafted rookies who made the team that year - hence the "Dirty Dozen
Dirty Dozen (American football)
The Dirty Dozen is the nickname referring to the rookies drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975. These players were sometimes credited with helping the Cowboys advance to Super Bowl X and was a key foundation of the team's success during the latter half of the 1970s going into the early 1980s...
" nickname for the Cowboys 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
draft, that helped the team reach Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X
Super Bowl X was an American football game played on January 18, 1976 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1975 regular season....
.
The "Dirty Dozen
Dirty Dozen (American football)
The Dirty Dozen is the nickname referring to the rookies drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1975. These players were sometimes credited with helping the Cowboys advance to Super Bowl X and was a key foundation of the team's success during the latter half of the 1970s going into the early 1980s...
" rookie class, didn't even include linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Mike Hegman
Mike Hegman
Michael William Hegman is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who played for the Dallas Cowboys. He played college football at Tennessee State University....
, who was drafted that year but did not arrive until 1976
1976 NFL season
The 1976 NFL season was the 57th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded to 28 teams with the addition of the Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
. Or rookie free agent quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Jim Zorn
Jim Zorn
James Arthur "Jim" Zorn is an American quarterbacks coach in the National Football League. He was formerly the quarterbacks coach for the Baltimore Ravens and now holds that same position with the Kansas City Chiefs...
who made the team, but was later cut, to make room for running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Preston Pearson
Preston Pearson
Preston James Pearson is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League who played for the Baltimore Colts , the Pittsburgh Steelers , and the Dallas Cowboys . Before his NFL career, he played for the University of Illinois, where he excelled at basketball...
, who had just been released by the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
.
In 1975
1975 NFL season
The 1975 NFL season was the 56th regular season of the National Football League. It was also the first time that featured an entire season with no games ending in a tie. The league made two significant changes to increase the appeal of the game:...
, the Cowboys needed help at offensive tackle and like defensive tackle Blaine Nye
Blaine Nye
Blaine Francis Nye is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League and founder and president of Stanford Consulting Group, Inc...
a few years before him, he was switched to the offensive line. Donovan gained more weight and saw action at both left and right tackle.
After being a reserve for his first two seasons, he took over the right tackle job in 1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
when Rayfield Wright
Rayfield Wright
Larry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...
went down with an injury and helped the team win Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
. He moved to left tackle when Ralph Neely
Ralph Neely
Ralph Eugene Neely is a former American football offensive tackle who played 13 seasons and 172 games for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965 to 1977.-Early years:...
retired and Rayfield Wright
Rayfield Wright
Larry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...
came back in 1978
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
.
Donovan emerged as one of the top offensive tackles in the NFL during the late 70s and early 80s and together with Herb Scott
Herbert Scott
Herbert Carnell Scott is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League...
formed one of the best left-side tandems in the league.
During his time with the Cowboys, center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
John Fitzgerald nicknamed the Cowboys offensive line as the "Four Irishmen and a Scott", when it was formed by Donovan, Fitzgerald, Jim Cooper, Tom Rafferty
Tom Rafferty
Thomas Michael Rafferty is a former American football offensive lineman in the NFL. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School in Manlius, New York, and went on to start four years for coach Joe Paterno at Penn State University earning All-American honors in 1975.-Early years:Rafferty attended...
and Herb Scott
Herbert Scott
Herbert Carnell Scott is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League...
. That group helped paved the way for Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
's Hall of Fame rushing
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
career.
Donovan was a catalyst on the Cowboys offensive line and a four-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
offensive lineman from 1979
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
to 1982
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
. He remains one of just four offensive tackles in club history to make at least four Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s, joining Rayfield Wright
Rayfield Wright
Larry Rayfield Wright is a former American football offensive tackle for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.-High school and college years:...
(six), Flozell Adams
Flozell Adams
Flozell "The Hotel" Adams is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan State....
(five) and Erik Williams
Erik Williams
Erik George Williams is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League who played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys . He played college football at Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he was an NAIA All-American offensive lineman. Williams was...
(four).
Donovan hadn't suffered many major injuries for his entire career before the 1983 season
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
. After the season, because of the accumulation of wear and tear, he ended up needing surgery to repair both shoulders and decided to retired.
The Cowboys lost some big names after the 1983 season
1983 NFL season
The 1983 NFL season was the 64th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVIII when the Los Angeles Raiders defeated the Washington Redskins.-Major rule changes:...
with the retirement of Donovan, Harvey Martin
Harvey Martin
Harvey Banks Martin was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 until 1983. He started playing football in high school, only because he overheard his father tell his mother that he was ashamed that his son did not play like his friends'...
, Drew Pearson
Drew Pearson (American football)
Drew Pearson is a sportscaster and former American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League.-Early years:...
and Billy Joe DuPree
Billy Joe Dupree
Billy Joe DuPree is a former professional American football tight end in the National Football League who played his entire career for the Dallas Cowboys.-Early years:DuPree was born and reared in Monroe, Louisiana...
.
Never missing a game, Donovan played in 9 seasons, 20 playoff games, including six NFC Championship Games and three Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s, earning a title ring in Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII
Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1977 regular season...
against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
He is considered to be one of the greatest offensive tackles in the Cowboys franchise history.