Man Who Threw First Nationally Televised Touchdown Pass Has Died

The forward pass. Having come into existence more than a century ago in 1906 at the demand of President Theodore Roosevelt himself because the game was getting too violent, we now would not even be able to imagine the game of football without it.

Nearly a half-century later, the first one thrown for a touchdown on national television came for the University of Illinois against Stanford in the 1952 Rose Bowl. The passer, Donald J. Engels - a longtime North Shore resident who had lived in Glenview since 1969 - died on April 15. He was 84.

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Son of a man from Wilmette and woman whose descendants came from Germany, Engels grew up on the North Shore and attended St. George High School in Evanston, where he became an all-state quarterback coached by the legendary Max Burnell.

He then played at Illinois under coach Ray Elliott, who allowed him to play basketball at the noted Big Ten school as well.

According to an obituary posted by Donnellan Family Funeral Services, Engels served in the Army at the end of the Korean War, staying stateside and playing under player/coach and future Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis, a longtime friend of Engels’ who was famous for his “Just Win Baby” mantra and numerous feuds with the NFL under former commissioner Pete Rozelle.

Engels then played in the NFL with stints with the Chicago Cardinals and Baltimore Colts. Later, he spent some time in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders.

He was a longtime volunteer coach in the village of Glenview, coaching football, basketball and baseball teams through the years, according to Matt Engels - his son.

“In the 70’s and 80’s, pretty much any boy who played any sport was coached by my Dad in something,” said Matt. “A lot of former players have said my Dad had quite an impact on their lives.”

Engels and his wife, Dorothy moved to Glenview in 1969, joining several relatives who also made the move from Wilmette. Their family, which included five sons, were members of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Parish - the parish in which ancestors of Engels’ were founding members. Each of Engels’ sons attended Loyola Academy.