Davey O'Brien was 5' 7" but stood taller as one of the premier players of the 1930s, quarterbacking Dutch Meyers' TCU spread offense. O'Brien succeeded Sammy Baugh at TCU, becoming the Southwest Conference record holder for passing yards in a season and setting an NCAA record for the most combined rushing and passing attempts in a season. His efforts helped TCU to a national championship and allowed him to win the Heisman and Maxwell Trophies.

Drafted #4 overall by the New York Giants in the 1939 draft, O'Brien became the first Heisman winner to play in the NFL. (Jay Berwanger, Larry Kelley, and Clint Frank pursued other options.) O'Brien led the NFL in passing yardage his rookie season and played well his second year, but he had enough of pro ball after winning only one game each season.

O'Brien became an FBI agent and later pursued business interests.

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