Hall of Fame
Ed Danowski, a graduate of Riverhead High School (Section XI) and Fordham University, was one of the most successful three-sport athletes in Long Island high school sports history. From 1927-30 he earned All-County honors while competing in football, basketball and baseball at Riverhead—a rare honor during that era. He continued a football career at Fordham University where he was team captain his senior year in 1933 and selected as an NCAA All-American in 1932 and 1933. After graduation, Danowski was drafted by the New York Giants football team as a quarterback and halfback with his career in the NFL lasting seven seasons. In fact, he was the first New York Giants quarterback to win two NFL championships and from 1935-38, he was in the top five in nearly all NFL passing categories for four straight seasons. He led the NFL in passing yards, passing touchdowns and total offense in 1935. After retirement from the NFL, Danowski enlisted in the US Navy, eventually becoming Lieutenant Commander. Following his service, he returned to his alma mater as the head football coach at Fordham for nine seasons. Danowski garnered numerous honors to recognize his outstanding athletic career. He was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame, Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the inaugural class of the Long Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2007, Ed was selected as Newsday’s “Elite 11” which recognizes the best football players in Long Island history, and in 2011, he was recognized by The Suffolk Times as the greatest athlete in Suffolk County history.