Age: 23
1st
season in pro football
College: Wyoming
Height: 6’0” Weight: 184
Prelude:
Donnelly was
a placekicker and punter in college who averaged 47.5 yards on 63 punts as a
senior in 1984 while also connecting on all 30 of his extra point attempts and
three of six field goals. Undrafted by the NFL, Donnelly signed with the New
England Patriots as a free agent in ’85 but, unable to unseat Rich Camarillo, was
picked up by the Falcons. His rookie season ended prematurely due to a knee
injury.
1985 Season Summary
Appeared in 11
of 16 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Punting
Punts – 59
Most punts,
game – 7 at Philadelphia 11/10
Yards – 2574
Average – 43.6
[3, 1st in NFC]
Best average,
game – 52.1 (on 7 punts) at Philadelphia 11/10
Punts blocked
– 0
Longest punt
– 68 yards
Rushing
Attempts – 2
Yards – -5
Average gain
– -2.5
TDs – 0
Falcons went 4-12
to finish fourth in the NFC West.
Aftermath:
Donnelly
spent three more seasons with the Falcons and led the NFL with a 44.0 average
in the strike-interrupted 1987 season. His hang time improved in ’88, but a
back injury cost him the entire 1989 season. While he returned with the Seattle
Seahawks in 1990 and averaged 40.6 yards on 67punts, he was placed on injured
reserve three games into the ’91 season and further back surgery ended his
career. Overall, Donnelly averaged 42.1 yards on 376 punts, with 296 of those
punts for a 42.6-yard average coming with the Falcons. He was twice a second-team
All-NFC choice by UPI.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were first-team
All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following
statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues
include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL
(1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
