On March 13, 2026, the Ohio University community said its final goodbye to its legend, Don “Skip” Hoovler. But even in death, Hoovler found a way to keep giving to the game. At 83 years old, the Hall of Famer left behind more than just a record book filled with laurels of his days of glory. He left behind a death wish, one last act of toughness and love for the sport.

Skip’s son, Bret Hoovler, confirmed that his brain and spine would be donated to the researchers at Boston University to help study chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition tied to repeated head trauma in football. Given that this it can only be diagnosed after death, the study of brain tissue donations from former players is crucial. And Skip for one understood the brutal nature of the game, given that he played in a far less forgiving time.

Then the helmets didn’t have the energy-absorbing foam. And many of the safety standards that are there today had not been introduced. Hoovler spent years playing linebacker, a position built on head-on collisions in the middle of the field. It’s exactly the type of repeated contact researchers now link to long-term brain trauma. Research now shows how serious the risk can be if exposed to repeated head injuries.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School studied nearly 3,500 former NFL players as part of the Football Players Health Study. They found that the players who reported the highest number of concussion symptoms were 22 times more likely to develop some serious cognitive problems in life. They were also six times more likely to report mental health concerns like depression or anxiety.

The study also found that career length and playing position are factors that increased the risk. Players who spent 10 or more seasons in the game were twice as likely to get serious cognitive issues. Plus, running backs, linebackers, and special teams players reported the highest levels of concussion symptoms.

For context, about 12% of former players report cognitive problems, serious ones, compared to just 2% of the general U.S. population, which is telling. The danger, moreover, applies not just to older players but to younger ones too. In fact, studies by the National Institutes of Health show that concussions are dangerous for younger athletes whose brains are still developing. Research has come a long way now, but has much more to go, and so donations like Hoovler’s become extremely valuable.

For fans, though, Don Skip Hoovler will be remembered for his game. The iconic 1962 Sun Bowl against West Texas State, where Hoovler was just a young linebacker. He stepped in front of a pass and refused to go down. He rumbled 91 yards for a touchdown, and it’s a record that still stands as the longest interception return in Sun Bowl history.

He is one of the most decorated players in the program’s history. He won the first team All-MAC honors for three consecutive seasons, starting from 1962, and won two honorable All-American mentions. But big plays weren’t the only highlights in Don’s resume. The 1978 Hall of Fame inductee also captained the Bobcats in 1964 and was the president of his senior class.

Hoovler had a brief career with the Jets and Houston Oilers after concluding his college career in 1964. Despite that short tenure, Skip remains the only Bobcat to win the All-American honors in multiple seasons. Now, as his final act, his brain, which once helped block crucial offensive plays, will serve players for time immemorial.

Don Skip Hoover’s contributions go beyond the world of football

After finishing up his football career, Skip went on to dominate another sport altogether. He became a harness horse racing owner and a certified breeder, and bred some of the most iconic horses. Those included the Medoland Big Sam ($309,423) and Northmedo Mission ($322,178). His teams quickly started giving results, and he was finally named in the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame as its 51st member. Now, after his passing, he is being remembered fondly.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Don ‘Skip’ Hoovler,” Ohio head coach John Hauser wrote on X. “2× All-American and one of the greatest to ever play in Athens, Rest in peace.”  Throughout his life, Hoovler also held several prominent roles. Because of his harness horse racing background, the 83-year-old became the director of the United States Trotting Association and remained there for several decades.

Hoovler is now survived by his wife of 60 years, Tammy, and three children, including his son Brent Hoovler. Apart from his sporting and leadership background, Skip is also remembered as a “man of honor” who was generous, kind, and deeply involved in his Ohio community. His impact —especially in Ohio — will be felt for many years to come,” UTSA executive Mike Tanner said.