CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns have delivered plenty of memorable moments this season, but one of the best came in November when 3News' Jim Donovan -- aka the "Voice of the Browns" -- returned to the booth after undergoing treatment for leukemia.
Now, as the Cleveland Browns prepare to face the Houston Texans in the NFL playoffs, the team released a special video Thursday morning that features Donovan reflecting on this remarkable season from his point of view.
The message: Never give up.
Watch the video below... It's pretty amazing.
"For me, a tough opponent walked back into my life. Cancer returned," Donovan says in the video. "I had beaten it 12 years ago, but here it was again. To fight it, I had to step away from this thrilling year. I had to leave the place where I loved to be every Sunday afternoon. Instead, I watched from a hospital room and then home, and kept telling myself, ‘I have to get back to be a voice to this season.’ Now believe me, there were many days where that didn’t look possible. But just like the Browns, I just never gave up."
AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT
“The reaction of the crowd when I came out of that tunnel is something I will never forget. I’ll never forget it," Donovan previously recalled on 3News after being honored as the Dawg Pound Captain during his return at the Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game on Nov. 19.
His return became even more memorable after coach Kevin Stefanski awarded Donovan with the game ball.
“I walked into the locker room and Kevin Stefanski came out of his office and he had the game ball in his hands," Donovan explained the next day. "He grabbed me and he said, ‘Hey, I want you to have this ball because you’re a fighter just like this team.’ And I went, ‘Oh, my God.’ And he said, ‘I just can’t believe how hard you’ve fought to get back here, and it means the world to us. We are just so happy to have you back. I want you to have this game ball.’ It was an incredible exchange.”
WATCH THE BROWNS VS. TEXANS ON WKYC
Are you ready? You can watch the big game as it airs on WKYC with coverage throughout the afternoon. Here's the TV schedule for the AFC Wild-Card game:
- 2:30 p.m. Pregame huddle
- 3 p.m. NBC's Football Night in America
- 4:30 p.m. Browns vs. Texans
- 8 p.m. Postgame show
The Browns go into the playoffs with an 11-6 record, while the Texans finished the regular season at 10-7.
We've got this!
MORE BROWNS COVERAGE FROM 3NEWS...
- Cleveland Browns vs. Houston Texans in NFL playoffs on WKYC: When to watch, point spread, preview
- 'Go 1-0': Cleveland Browns release hype video ahead of AFC Wild Card game against Houston Texans
- 3News' Jim Donovan featured as 'Voice of the Browns' on new shirt
- 'The phones have been ringing off the hook': Demand for new Cleveland Browns playoff gear keeps area businesses busy
- As Cleveland Browns playoff game nears, Mike Polk Jr. checks out Tim Misny billboard saluting Joe Flacco