Because of the small size of Beaver High School, it had no football program, so Doran practiced basketball and baseball.

On the baseball diamond Doran possessed prolific home run power as a switch hitter while playing the catcher position.

Against Rippey High School as senior, Doran belted 3 home runs, 2 as a right handed hitter and 1 as a lefty.

His first exposure to the sport of football was at Buena Vista College in the fall of 1947, on the "B" team, joining after a short stint in the navy during World War II.

Doran transferred to Iowa State University in 1947, joining the track team as a sprinter, high jumper and shot putter.

[3] The biggest play of his pro career occurred in the 1953 NFL Championship Game, when he caught a 33-yard touchdown pass, that pulled out a 17–16 victory.

Doran started the franchise's legacy of Pro Bowl tight ends that includes: Dick Bielski, Lee Folkins, Billy Joe Dupree, Doug Cosbie, Jay Novacek and Jason Witten.

Doran rejoined his old Detroit Lions head coach, Buddy Parker, as an assistant with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 1964 and 1965 seasons.