It’s been an eventful year already in the AFC North, and the regular season hasn’t even started yet.

That’s because two of the most iconic people in the division have retired.

We’re talking about Jim Donovan, who has had to step away just before the start of his 25th season as the radio play-by-play announcer of the Browns to concentrate on his health after his cancer has come back, and aggressively.

Last spring, Bill Hillgrove, who called Pittsburgh Steelers games for 30 years, stepped away so that he could start doing some different things in the fall. Hillgrove will continue as the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the University of Pittsburgh football and men’s basketball teams.

You don’t really replace men like them. You just don’t. You can’t. They were too good at what they did. You just find somebody else who will try to do the best job that they can.

Hillgrove has been replaced by Rob King. The Browns have yet to announce who will take over for Donovan.

Donovan was only the fourth radio play-by-play man the Browns have have had since 1961, and one of those announcers, Casey Coleman, stayed for just two years. Gib Shanley had the job for 25 years before giving way in 1985 to Nev Chandler, who did it for 11 years. Coleman began in 1994, and when the new Bros returned at 1999, Donovan started.

Hillgrove took over in 1994 for Jack Fleming, who had had the job for 35 years, beginning in 1958. 

We wish them both, especially Donovan, the very best. They will be sorely missed.

Steve King