20 Facts About Davey O'Brien

Robert David O'Brien was an American football quarterback.

Davey O'Brien played college football at Texas Christian University and professionally in the National Football League with the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons.

In 1938, Davey O'Brien won the Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award, and was the fourth overall pick of the 1939 NFL draft.

Davey O'Brien was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.

Since 1981, the Davey O'Brien Award is given annually to the best quarterback in college football.

Davey O'Brien was an All-State selection and led the high school to the Texas state playoffs in 1932.

Davey O'Brien played college football at nearby TCU in Fort Worth in 1935 as a backup for Sammy Baugh.

Davey O'Brien became the starter in 1937, and was named to the first-team All-Southwest Conference.

Davey O'Brien had only four interceptions in 194 attempts, and his NCAA record for most rushing and passing plays in a single season still stands today.

Davey O'Brien was named to 13 All-America teams and became the first player to win the Heisman and Maxwell awards in the same year.

Davey O'Brien was the first Heisman winner from TCU and the Southwest Conference.

Davey O'Brien majored in geology and expressed little interest in pro football in January 1939.

Davey O'Brien was selected in the first round with the fourth overall pick of the 1939 NFL Draft, held in December 1938.

Davey O'Brien became the first Heisman trophy winner to play in the NFL.

Davey O'Brien was a defensive back and punter, intercepted four passes for 92 yards and punted nine times for an average of 40.7 yards per kick.

Davey O'Brien was a firearms instructor at Quantico, Virginia, and spent the last five years of his FBI career in Dallas.

Davey O'Brien later entered the oil business, working for Dresser Atlas Industries of Dallas.

Davey O'Brien was 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.

Davey O'Brien was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955 and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 1956.

In 1971, Davey 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.