Davey O'Brien

Early life

Born in Dallas, Texas, O'Brien played high school football at its Woodrow Wilson High School. He was an All-State selection and led the high school to the Texas state playoffs in 1932.

College career

O'Brien played college football at nearby TCU in Fort Worth in 1935 as a backup for Sammy Baugh. He became the starter in 1937, and was named to the first-team All-Southwest Conference.

In 1938, O'Brien threw for 1,457 yards – a Southwest Conference passing record that stood for ten years. He had only four interceptions in 194 attempts, and his NCAA record for most rushing and passing plays in a single season still stands today.

College statistics

Professional career

O'Brien was selected in the first round with the fourth overall pick of the 1939 NFL draft, held in December 1938. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles, and owner Bert Bell gave him a $12,000 bonus and a two-year contract, and he signed with the team in March. O'Brien became the first Heisman trophy winner to play in the NFL.

In his rookie season in the NFL in 1939, O'Brien led the league in passing with 1,324 yards in 11 games, breaking his old TCU teammate Sammy Baugh's single season passing yardage record, but the Eagles finished at 1–9–1. After an appendectomy in late June, he again led the league in several passing categories in 1940, including attempts and completions.

Despite O'Brien's efforts, Philadelphia lost their first nine games and finished at 1–10, last in the ten-team league. The Eagles offered O'Brien a $2,000 raise for 1941, but he retired after the 1940 season to take a government job.

In his professional career, O'Brien completed 223 of 478 passes for 2,614 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also a defensive back and punter, intercepted four passes for 92 yards and punted nine times for an average of 40.7 yards per kick.

Life after football

After two seasons with the Eagles, O'Brien retired from football to become an agent in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),

O'Brien was also president of the TCU Alumni Association, a YMCA board member, a chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party, a supporter of Golden Gloves youth boxing programs, and a deacon of University Christian Church. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1956. From 1960 to 1964, he was the color commentator on Dallas Cowboys telecasts.

In 1971, O'Brien was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery to remove a kidney and part of his right lung, but eventually died from the disease on November 18, 1977.

When Tim Brown won the Heisman Trophy in 1987, it made Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas the distinction of being the first to produce two Heisman winners.

In 1989, O'Brien (posthumously) and Brown were inducted together into Woodrow Wilson High School's newly created Hall of Fame in celebration of the school's 60th anniversary.

References

References

1. (December 7, 1938). "This proves Davey O'Brien is nation's best gridder". Milwaukee Journal.
2. (January 11, 1939). "Davey O'Brien to spurn pros". Milwaukee Journal.
3. "Davey O'Brien bio". Daveyobrien.com.
4. (September 2017}} That season, he led the [[1938 TCU Horned Frogs football team). "Davey O'Brien wants no more football playing". The Day.
5. "1939 NFL Draft Listing".
6. Turner, Leo. (March 22, 1939). "Davey O'Brien is signed by Eagles". Berkeley Daily Gazette.
7. "Pro Football History: Davey O'Brien". [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].
8. (June 29, 1940). "Davey O'Brien has appendix removed". Milwaukee Journal.
9. (December 3, 1940). "Six pro grid records broken, one tied in 1940". Lewiston Daily Sun.
10. Rocky Wolfe, "A Squint at the League," ''Pro Football Illustrated 1971.'' Mt. Morris, IL: Elbak Publishing Co., 1941; p. 8.
11. (July 31, 1959). "Oilman backs new grid league". Milwaukee Sentinel.
12. (2023-08-08). "Why “HEISMAN HIGH”?".