Doug Flutie
Encyclopedia
Douglas Richard "Doug" Flutie (born October 23, 1962) is a former American
and Canadian football
quarterback
. Flutie played college football
at Boston College
, and played professionally in the National Football League
, Canadian Football League
, and United States Football League
. He first rose to prominence during his career at Boston College, where he received the prestigious Heisman Trophy
and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in 1984. His Hail Mary
touchdown
pass in a game against Miami
on November 23, 1984 (dubbed "Hail Flutie") is considered among the greatest moments in college football
and American sports history. Selected as the 285th pick in the 11th round, Flutie is the lowest drafted Heisman Award winner among those who were drafted. Flutie played that year for the New Jersey Generals
of the upstart United States Football League. In 1986 he signed with the NFL's Chicago Bears
, and later played for the New England Patriots
, becoming their starting quarterback in 1988.
Flutie signed with the BC Lions
of the Canadian Football League
in 1990, and in 1991, threw for a record 6,619 yards. He played briefly with his brother Darren
, a wide receiver
, before being traded to the Calgary Stampeders
, whom he led to victory in the 1992 Grey Cup
. In 1994, he threw a record 48 touchdown passes. Flutie played for the Stampeders until 1996, when he signed with the Toronto Argonauts
, leading them to back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996 and 1997. Flutie was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player a record six times, and was named the MVP in all three of his Grey Cup victories.
He returned to the NFL in 1998 with the Buffalo Bills
, where he earned Pro Bowl
and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. He played for the San Diego Chargers
from 2001 to 2004, and finished his career as a member of the New England Patriots
in 2005. In 2006, he was ranked #1 in a list of the top 50 CFL players
. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame
and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 2007.
He is a former college football analyst for ABC
and ESPN
. In 2009, he joined Versus as a broadcaster for the United Football League. He is currently (2011-2012) a college football analyst for VERSUS/NBC SPORTS.
to Lebanese
-American parents. His family moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida
when he was 6, where his father, Richard, worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry. After the dramatic slow-down of the space program in the mid-1970s, the Flutie family again moved in 1976 to Natick, Massachusetts
. His nickname was "The Wee One". The young Flutie was exceptional at arithmetic; his mother, Joan, would take him grocery shopping and ask him to add up the prices of the items bought in his head before they got to the check-out. According to his mother, Flutie's final totals were never more than $2.00 off.
, where he played for the "Redmen". He was an All-League performer in football, basketball and baseball.
, the only Division I-A school to recruit him, from 1981 to 1984, and won the Heisman Trophy
, Maxwell Award
, and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in his senior year (1984). Flutie became the first quarterback to win the Heisman since Pat Sullivan
in 1971. He gained national attention in 1984 when he quarterbacked the Eagles to victory in a high-scoring, back-and-forth game against the Miami Hurricanes
(led by QB Bernie Kosar
). The game was nationally televised on CBS
the day after Thanksgiving
and thus had a huge audience. Miami staged a dramatic drive to take the lead, 45-41, in the closing minute of the game. Boston College then took possession at its own 22-yard line with 28 seconds to go. After two passes moved the ball another 30 yards, only 6 seconds remained. On the last play of the game, Flutie scrambled away from the defense and threw a Hail Mary pass
that was caught in the end zone by Gerard Phelan
, giving BC a 47-45 win. Although many people mistakenly think that play clinched the Heisman Trophy
for Flutie, the voting was already completed before that game.
Flutie left school as the NCAA’s all-time passing yardage leader with 10,579 yards and was a consensus All-America as a senior. He earned Player of the Year awards from UPI, Kodak, The Sporting News
and the Maxwell Football Club
.
In addition to his collegiate athletic achievement, Flutie maintained a distinguished academic record at Boston College. He was a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship
, for which he was named a finalist in 1984. Upon graduating, Flutie won a National Football Foundation
post-graduate scholarship. His number, 22, has been retired by the Boston College football program.
Flutie's 1984 Hail Mary pass, and the subsequent rise in applications for admission to Boston College, gave rise to the admissions phenomenon known as the "Flutie Effect
". This idea essentially states that a winning sports team can increase the recognition value of a university enough to make it a more elite school.
Twenty-four years later in November 2008, Doug Flutie was honored by Boston College with a statue of his famous Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan
to beat Miami
.
in his senior season, Flutie was not highly rated going into the 1985 NFL Draft
because of his 5'10" stature, which many considered too short for an NFL quarterback.
Perhaps seizing on the NFL's hesitation, Flutie was selected by the USFL's New Jersey Generals (owned by Donald Trump
) in the 1985 territorial draft, which took place months before the 1985 NFL Draft; Flutie was officially signed on February 4, 1985. Trump, looking to improve the Generals' passing game that floundered under the guidance of former NFL MVP Brian Sipe
in 1984, reportedly signed Flutie to a 3-year, $3.1 million deal. Sipe was subsequently traded to the Jacksonville Bulls just days later. Having already signed with the USFL, Flutie was not selected in the NFL Draft until the 11th round, 285th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams
.
Flutie completed 134 of 281 passes for 2,109 yards and 13 TD's with the Generals in 1985 in 15 games. He suffered an injury late in the season that saw him turn over the reins to Donald Trump's team to reserve QB Ron Reeves. The Generals went on to sport an 11-7 record and a 2nd place finish in the USFL's Eastern Conference.
The 1985 USFL season, however, was a highlight for Flutie as he handed off to record-breaking RB Herschel Walker
. Walker went on to break pro football's all-time single season rushing mark by rolling up 2,411 yards for the Generals that season.
The USFL folded in 1986, and Flutie and punter Sean Landeta
were the league's last active players.
, appearing in 4 games.
Flutie was then traded to the New England Patriots
at the start of the 1987 NFL season, a season which saw the NFL Players Association go on strike, and NFL games subsequently being played by replacement players. Flutie crossed the picket lines in order to play for the Patriots, and charges of being a scab
dogged him thereafter. Flutie would remain with the Patriots from 1987–1989, after which he left to play in the Canadian Football League
.
for a two-year contract reportedly worth $350,000 a season. At the time he was the highest paid player in the CFL. Flutie struggled in his first season, which would be his only losing season in the CFL. Over the next seven years he would go 99-27 as a starter. In his second season, he threw for a record 6,619 yards on 466 completions. Flutie was rewarded with a reported million-dollar salary with the Calgary Stampeders
.
Flutie won his first Grey Cup
in 1992 with the Stampeders. He was named the Grey Cup MVP.
During his last years in Calgary, Flutie's backup was Jeff Garcia
, who later went on to start for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers
. Flutie won two more Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts
, in 1996 (The Snow Bowl
) and 1997, before signing with the Buffalo Bills
of the National Football League
in 1998. Prior to his final two Grey Cup victories with the Argonauts, Flutie was hampered by the opinion, supported by the media, that he was a quarterback who could not win in cold weather. In both 1993 and 1994, the Stampeders had the best record in the league, but lost the Western Final each year at home in freezing conditions. After first refusing to wear gloves in freezing temperatures, in later years Flutie adapted to throwing with gloves in cold weather.
His career CFL statistics include 41,355 passing yards and 270 touchdowns. He holds the professional football record of 6,619 yards passing in a single season. He still holds four of the CFL's top five highest single-season completion marks, including a record 466 in 1991. His 48 touchdown passes in 1994 remains a CFL
record. He earned three Grey Cup MVP
awards, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player a record six times (1991–1994, and 1996–1997).
On November 17, 2006, Flutie was named the greatest Canadian Football League player of all time from a top 50 list of CFL players conducted by TSN
. In 2007 he was named to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
, the first non-Canadian to be inducted.
' quarterback five games into the 1998 season. The Bills were initially uninterested in signing him, but then-pro personnel director A.J. Smith successfully convinced the organization that Flutie would be a great asset to the team. In his first action with the Bills, Flutie entered for an injured Rob Johnson and passed for two TDs while leading a fourth-quarter comeback against the Indianapolis Colts on October 11, 1998. The following week, Doug Flutie would make his first NFL start since October 15, 1989, against the unbeaten Jacksonville Jaguars. The nine-year gap between starts for a quarterback was the second most in NFL longest duration (behind Tommy Maddox) until the 2007 season. Flutie would be the hero of the Bills' victory as he scored the winning touchdown against the Jaguars by rolling out on a bootleg and into the end zone on a fourth-down play in the waning seconds. The Bills' success continued with Flutie at the helm; his record as a starter that season was 8–3. Flutie was selected to play in the 1998 Pro Bowl
.
Flutie led the Bills to a 10–5 record in 1999 but, in a controversial decision, was replaced by Rob Johnson for the playoffs by coach Wade Phillips
, who later said he had been ordered by Bills owner Ralph Wilson to do so. The Bills lost 22–16 to the eventual AFC Champion Tennessee Titans
in a game that has become known for the Music City Miracle
, where the Titans scored on the penultimate play of the game — a kickoff return following the Bills' apparent game-clinching field goal. After the season had ended, Flutie was named the Bills' backup and only played late in games or when Johnson was injured, which was often. In fact, during the season, Flutie had a 4–1 record as a starter, in comparison to Johnson's 4–7. Following the season, Bills President Tom Donahoe
and head coach Gregg Williams
decided to keep Johnson as the starter and cut Flutie.
The Bills have not appeared in a playoff game since Phillips replaced Flutie with Johnson and some say this began the "Flutie Curse"
, who had gone 1–15 in 2000. After opening 3–0, the Chargers slumped and were 4-2 going into Week 7, when Flutie's Chargers met Rob Johnson's Bills. Flutie prevailed as the new ex-Bill broke a sack attempt and ran 13 yards for the game-winning touchdown. It would be the last win for the Chargers in 2001, as they dropped their last nine games to finish 5-11 and cost head coach Mike Riley
his job. (Buffalo, respectively, finished 3-13 with Johnson and, later, Alex Van Pelt
as starters.) Flutie was Drew Brees
' backup in 2002.
In 2003, Flutie replaced a struggling Brees when the Chargers were 1–7. The 41-year-old Flutie became the oldest player to score two rushing touchdowns in a game, the first player over 40 to accomplish that feat. He also became the oldest AFC Offensive Player of the Week, winning the award for the fourth time. Flutie's record as a starter that year was 2–3. Flutie was released from the Chargers on March 13, 2005.
instead of the New York Giants
. He became the backup behind Tom Brady
and played several times at the end of games to take a few snaps. Flutie has a 37-28 record as an NFL starter, including a 22-9 record in home games.
Referring to his time in the Canadian Football League (and, presumably, to the quarterback's relatively diminutive stature), television football commentator John Madden once said, "Inch for inch, Flutie in his prime was the best QB of his generation."
In a December 26, 2005 game against the New York Jets
, Flutie was sent in late in the game. The Jets also sent in their back-up quarterback, Vinny Testaverde
. This was the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks over the age of 40 competed against each other (Testaverde was 42, Flutie was 43). This was the final nationally televised Monday Night Football
game on ABC
before its move to ESPN
.
In the Patriots' regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins
on January 1, 2006, Flutie successfully drop kick
ed a football for an extra point
, something that had not been done in a regular-season NFL game since 1941. It was Flutie's first kick attempt in the NFL, and earned him that week's title of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
, known for his knowledge of the history of the game, made comments that suggested that the play was a retirement present of sorts for his veteran quarterback, although Flutie had made no comment on whether 2005 would be his last season. There is video of the Flutie describing the event in his own words.
During the 2006 offseason, Flutie's agent, Kristen Kuliga, stated he was interested in returning to the Patriots for another season; as a result he was widely expected to return, despite his age. But on May 15, 2006, Flutie announced his decision to "hang up his helmet" at the age of 43 and retire. Flutie was the second to last former USFL
player to retire, behind Sean Landeta
.
, Flutie was contemplating a temporary comeback with the team as of July 25, 2006. Flutie did not plan to play long-term, for he had planned on doing college football commentary on ESPN
in the coming season. On August 18, 2006, a story was published on CFL.ca examining this topic in-depth. Flutie was pondering a return to Canadian Football
because of his relationship with Argonauts head coach
and former running back
Pinball Clemons
, and the desire to "say goodbye to the CFL". According to the report, Flutie was poised to return to Toronto on July 22, after their victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
and the injury to backup quarterback Spergon Wynn
. Nevertheless, Flutie chose to remain in retirement.
's third all-time receptions leader, Darren Flutie
. Flutie also has an older brother, Bill Flutie and an older sister, Denise Flutie. His nephew Billy Flutie, son of Bill Flutie, is a wide receiver/punter at Boston College. Flutie is the second son of Richard and Joan Flutie. Flutie is married to his high school sweetheart, Laurie, (née
Fortier). They have a daughter, Alexa, a New England Patriots Cheerleader, and a son, Doug Jr. Their son has autism
, and the Fluties established The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. in honor of him. He also created a cereal, Flutie Flakes
, with the benefits going toward this organization. In his free time, Flutie has attended college football and basketball games at his alma mater Boston College
and was a season ticket-holder. Flutie has spent his summers in Bethany Beach
, Delaware, frequenting the local basketball court. Flutie also has worked with the local Massachusetts Eastern Bank
and is a spokesman for Natick/Framingham's Metrowest Medical Center. He is a member of the Longfellow Sports Clubs at their Wayland and Natick locations. Flutie continues to live in Natick and was honored in November, 2007 by being inducted into the Natick High School
Wall of Achievement. A short stretch of road connecting the Natick Mall and the Shoppers' World Mall in Natick / Framingham, MA is named "Flutie Pass
" in honor of his historic 1984 play against Miami.
Flutie frequents Melbourne Beach, Florida in the winter time and has a local sports field complex named after him.
With his brother Darren on guitar, Doug plays drums in the Flutie Brothers Band, and once played for Boston
at a tribute honoring Doug. Nov. 13, 2006 was Doug Flutie Day in Boston. Flutie endorsed Scott Brown
for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts
for 2010, and the Flutie Brothers Band played at Brown's victory celebration.
, becoming the first non-Canadian inductee.
On May 9, 2007, Flutie was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
in his first year of eligibility.
On April 2, 2008, Flutie was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
in his first year of eligibility.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
. Flutie played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, and played professionally in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, and United States Football League
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
. He first rose to prominence during his career at Boston College, where he received the prestigious Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in 1984. His Hail Mary
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
pass in a game against Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
on November 23, 1984 (dubbed "Hail Flutie") is considered among the greatest moments in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and American sports history. Selected as the 285th pick in the 11th round, Flutie is the lowest drafted Heisman Award winner among those who were drafted. Flutie played that year for the New Jersey Generals
New Jersey Generals
The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition...
of the upstart United States Football League. In 1986 he signed with the NFL's Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and later played for the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, becoming their starting quarterback in 1988.
Flutie signed with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
in 1990, and in 1991, threw for a record 6,619 yards. He played briefly with his brother Darren
Darren Flutie
Darren Paul Flutie is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's third all-time leader in catches, behind Ben Cahoon and Terry Vaughn; he is also third all-time in career receiving yardage behind...
, a wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, before being traded to the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
, whom he led to victory in the 1992 Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
. In 1994, he threw a record 48 touchdown passes. Flutie played for the Stampeders until 1996, when he signed with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, leading them to back-to-back Grey Cup victories in 1996 and 1997. Flutie was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player a record six times, and was named the MVP in all three of his Grey Cup victories.
He returned to the NFL in 1998 with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he earned Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors. He played for the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 2001 to 2004, and finished his career as a member of the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
in 2005. In 2006, he was ranked #1 in a list of the top 50 CFL players
TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
. He was named to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
and Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 2007.
He is a former college football analyst for ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
and ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. In 2009, he joined Versus as a broadcaster for the United Football League. He is currently (2011-2012) a college football analyst for VERSUS/NBC SPORTS.
Early years
Flutie was born in Catonsville, MarylandCatonsville, Maryland
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:In 2010 Catonsville had a population of 41,567...
to Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
-American parents. His family moved to Melbourne Beach, Florida
Melbourne Beach, Florida
Melbourne Beach is a town in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,335 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 3,314. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:The Ais Indians resided...
when he was 6, where his father, Richard, worked as an engineer in the aerospace industry. After the dramatic slow-down of the space program in the mid-1970s, the Flutie family again moved in 1976 to Natick, Massachusetts
Natick, Massachusetts
Natick is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. Natick is located near the center of the MetroWest region of Massachusetts, with a population of 33,006 at the 2010 census. Only west from Boston, Natick is considered part of the Greater Boston area...
. His nickname was "The Wee One". The young Flutie was exceptional at arithmetic; his mother, Joan, would take him grocery shopping and ask him to add up the prices of the items bought in his head before they got to the check-out. According to his mother, Flutie's final totals were never more than $2.00 off.
High school years
Flutie graduated from Natick High SchoolNatick High School
Natick High School is a public high school serving students in grades 9-12 in Natick, Massachusetts. The school is located on the banks of Lake Cochituate. It enrolled 1189 students as of the 2005-06 school year. Rose Bertucci is currently the interim principal after the retirement of former...
, where he played for the "Redmen". He was an All-League performer in football, basketball and baseball.
College years
Flutie played football for Boston CollegeBoston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, the only Division I-A school to recruit him, from 1981 to 1984, and won the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
, Maxwell Award
Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the collegiate American football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best football player in the United States. The...
, and the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award in his senior year (1984). Flutie became the first quarterback to win the Heisman since Pat Sullivan
Pat Sullivan (American football)
Patrick Joseph Sullivan is an American football coach and former player. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1971 playing quarterback for the Auburn Tigers and then played in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins. Sullivan is currently the head coach at Samford University...
in 1971. He gained national attention in 1984 when he quarterbacked the Eagles to victory in a high-scoring, back-and-forth game against the Miami Hurricanes
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
(led by QB Bernie Kosar
Bernie Kosar
Bernard Joseph "Bernie" Kosar, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. Kosar played for the Cleveland Browns from 1985 to 1993 and then finished his career with the Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins.-Early life and high school career:A Hungarian-American...
). The game was nationally televised on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
the day after Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
and thus had a huge audience. Miami staged a dramatic drive to take the lead, 45-41, in the closing minute of the game. Boston College then took possession at its own 22-yard line with 28 seconds to go. After two passes moved the ball another 30 yards, only 6 seconds remained. On the last play of the game, Flutie scrambled away from the defense and threw a Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
that was caught in the end zone by Gerard Phelan
Gerard Phelan
Gerard Phelan is a former college football player, who lined up at wide receiver for Boston College.-Early years:Phelan played football for Archbishop John Carroll Catholic High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1981....
, giving BC a 47-45 win. Although many people mistakenly think that play clinched the Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
for Flutie, the voting was already completed before that game.
Flutie left school as the NCAA’s all-time passing yardage leader with 10,579 yards and was a consensus All-America as a senior. He earned Player of the Year awards from UPI, Kodak, The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
and the Maxwell Football Club
Maxwell Football Club
The Maxwell Football Club was established in 1935 to promote safety in the game of American football. Named in honor of the late Robert W...
.
In addition to his collegiate athletic achievement, Flutie maintained a distinguished academic record at Boston College. He was a candidate for a Rhodes Scholarship
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholarship, named after Cecil Rhodes, is an international postgraduate award for study at the University of Oxford. It was the first large-scale programme of international scholarships, and is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship" by many public sources such as...
, for which he was named a finalist in 1984. Upon graduating, Flutie won a National Football Foundation
National Football Foundation
The National Football Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1947 by General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army Black Knights football coach Earl "Red" Blaik and journalist Grantland Rice...
post-graduate scholarship. His number, 22, has been retired by the Boston College football program.
Flutie's 1984 Hail Mary pass, and the subsequent rise in applications for admission to Boston College, gave rise to the admissions phenomenon known as the "Flutie Effect
Flutie effect
The Flutie Effect or Flutie Factor refers to the phenomenon of having a successful college sports team increase the exposure and prominence of a university...
". This idea essentially states that a winning sports team can increase the recognition value of a university enough to make it a more elite school.
Twenty-four years later in November 2008, Doug Flutie was honored by Boston College with a statue of his famous Hail Mary pass to Gerard Phelan
Gerard Phelan
Gerard Phelan is a former college football player, who lined up at wide receiver for Boston College.-Early years:Phelan played football for Archbishop John Carroll Catholic High School in Radnor, Pennsylvania, and graduated in 1981....
to beat Miami
Miami Hurricanes football
The Miami Hurricanes football program competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference of the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision for the University of Miami. The program began in 1926 and has won five AP national championships...
.
USFL career
Despite winning the Heisman TrophyHeisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
in his senior season, Flutie was not highly rated going into the 1985 NFL Draft
1985 NFL Draft
The 1985 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 30 and May 1, 1985...
because of his 5'10" stature, which many considered too short for an NFL quarterback.
Perhaps seizing on the NFL's hesitation, Flutie was selected by the USFL's New Jersey Generals (owned by Donald Trump
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, Sr. is an American business magnate, television personality and author. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump's extravagant lifestyle, outspoken manner and role on the NBC reality show The Apprentice have...
) in the 1985 territorial draft, which took place months before the 1985 NFL Draft; Flutie was officially signed on February 4, 1985. Trump, looking to improve the Generals' passing game that floundered under the guidance of former NFL MVP Brian Sipe
Brian Sipe
Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985....
in 1984, reportedly signed Flutie to a 3-year, $3.1 million deal. Sipe was subsequently traded to the Jacksonville Bulls just days later. Having already signed with the USFL, Flutie was not selected in the NFL Draft until the 11th round, 285th overall pick by the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
.
Flutie completed 134 of 281 passes for 2,109 yards and 13 TD's with the Generals in 1985 in 15 games. He suffered an injury late in the season that saw him turn over the reins to Donald Trump's team to reserve QB Ron Reeves. The Generals went on to sport an 11-7 record and a 2nd place finish in the USFL's Eastern Conference.
The 1985 USFL season, however, was a highlight for Flutie as he handed off to record-breaking RB Herschel Walker
Herschel Walker
Herschel Junior Walker is an American mixed martial artist and a former American football player. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs and earned the 1982 Heisman Trophy. He began his professional career with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League...
. Walker went on to break pro football's all-time single season rushing mark by rolling up 2,411 yards for the Generals that season.
The USFL folded in 1986, and Flutie and punter Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
were the league's last active players.
National Football League debut
Flutie, originally drafted by the L.A. Rams, on October 14, 1986 had his rights traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for draft picks. Flutie would later make his debut on the 1986 Chicago Bears1986 Chicago Bears season
The 1986 Chicago Bears season was their 67th regular season and 17th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 14-2 record and won the NFC Central for the third consecutive season....
, appearing in 4 games.
Flutie was then traded to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
at the start of the 1987 NFL season, a season which saw the NFL Players Association go on strike, and NFL games subsequently being played by replacement players. Flutie crossed the picket lines in order to play for the Patriots, and charges of being a scab
Strikebreaker
A strikebreaker is a person who works despite an ongoing strike. Strikebreakers are usually individuals who are not employed by the company prior to the trade union dispute, but rather hired prior to or during the strike to keep the organisation running...
dogged him thereafter. Flutie would remain with the Patriots from 1987–1989, after which he left to play in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Canadian Football League career
Flutie played in Canadian Football League for 8 years. He is revered as one of the greatest quarterbacks ever to play Canadian football. In 1990 he signed with the BC LionsBC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
for a two-year contract reportedly worth $350,000 a season. At the time he was the highest paid player in the CFL. Flutie struggled in his first season, which would be his only losing season in the CFL. Over the next seven years he would go 99-27 as a starter. In his second season, he threw for a record 6,619 yards on 466 completions. Flutie was rewarded with a reported million-dollar salary with the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
.
Flutie won his first Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
in 1992 with the Stampeders. He was named the Grey Cup MVP.
During his last years in Calgary, Flutie's backup was Jeff Garcia
Jeff Garcia
Jeffrey Jason "Jeff" Garcia is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at San Jose State University....
, who later went on to start for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. Flutie won two more Grey Cups with the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, in 1996 (The Snow Bowl
84th Grey Cup
The 84th Grey Cup, also known as The Snow Bowl, was the 1996 Grey Cup Canadian Football League championship game played between the Toronto Argonauts and the Edmonton Eskimos at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ontario...
) and 1997, before signing with the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 1998. Prior to his final two Grey Cup victories with the Argonauts, Flutie was hampered by the opinion, supported by the media, that he was a quarterback who could not win in cold weather. In both 1993 and 1994, the Stampeders had the best record in the league, but lost the Western Final each year at home in freezing conditions. After first refusing to wear gloves in freezing temperatures, in later years Flutie adapted to throwing with gloves in cold weather.
His career CFL statistics include 41,355 passing yards and 270 touchdowns. He holds the professional football record of 6,619 yards passing in a single season. He still holds four of the CFL's top five highest single-season completion marks, including a record 466 in 1991. His 48 touchdown passes in 1994 remains a CFL
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
record. He earned three Grey Cup MVP
Grey Cup Most Valuable Player
The Grey Cup's Most Valuable Player award is awarded annually to the player deemed to have the best performance in the Grey Cup Game, the Canadian Football League's championship game.-Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Award winners:...
awards, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player a record six times (1991–1994, and 1996–1997).
On November 17, 2006, Flutie was named the greatest Canadian Football League player of all time from a top 50 list of CFL players conducted by TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
. In 2007 he was named to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
, the first non-Canadian to be inducted.
Buffalo Bills
Flutie became the Buffalo Bills1998 Buffalo Bills season
The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League. The season marked an important development in the Bills history as a quarterback controversy would consume the whole season between Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. It would also mark the beginning of the...
' quarterback five games into the 1998 season. The Bills were initially uninterested in signing him, but then-pro personnel director A.J. Smith successfully convinced the organization that Flutie would be a great asset to the team. In his first action with the Bills, Flutie entered for an injured Rob Johnson and passed for two TDs while leading a fourth-quarter comeback against the Indianapolis Colts on October 11, 1998. The following week, Doug Flutie would make his first NFL start since October 15, 1989, against the unbeaten Jacksonville Jaguars. The nine-year gap between starts for a quarterback was the second most in NFL longest duration (behind Tommy Maddox) until the 2007 season. Flutie would be the hero of the Bills' victory as he scored the winning touchdown against the Jaguars by rolling out on a bootleg and into the end zone on a fourth-down play in the waning seconds. The Bills' success continued with Flutie at the helm; his record as a starter that season was 8–3. Flutie was selected to play in the 1998 Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
.
Flutie led the Bills to a 10–5 record in 1999 but, in a controversial decision, was replaced by Rob Johnson for the playoffs by coach Wade Phillips
Wade Phillips
Wade Allen Phillips is the defensive coordinator for the Houston Texans and former head coach for the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. He was also an interim head coach for the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons...
, who later said he had been ordered by Bills owner Ralph Wilson to do so. The Bills lost 22–16 to the eventual AFC Champion Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
in a game that has become known for the Music City Miracle
Music City Miracle
The Music City Miracle is the name commonly given to a play that took place on January 8, 2000 during the National Football League's 1999–2000 playoffs...
, where the Titans scored on the penultimate play of the game — a kickoff return following the Bills' apparent game-clinching field goal. After the season had ended, Flutie was named the Bills' backup and only played late in games or when Johnson was injured, which was often. In fact, during the season, Flutie had a 4–1 record as a starter, in comparison to Johnson's 4–7. Following the season, Bills President Tom Donahoe
Tom Donahoe
Tom Donahoe is a former general manager and president of the Buffalo Bills of the NFL.-Biography:Prior to his tenure with the Bills, he was director of football operations for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1991-1999...
and head coach Gregg Williams
Gregg Williams
Gregg Williams is the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints and the former head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Considered one of the most respected defensive minds in the game, Williams is known for running aggressive, attacking 4-3 schemes that put heavy pressure on opposing...
decided to keep Johnson as the starter and cut Flutie.
The Bills have not appeared in a playoff game since Phillips replaced Flutie with Johnson and some say this began the "Flutie Curse"
San Diego Chargers
In 2001 Flutie signed with the San Diego Chargers2001 San Diego Chargers season
-Schedule:-Standings:-References:...
, who had gone 1–15 in 2000. After opening 3–0, the Chargers slumped and were 4-2 going into Week 7, when Flutie's Chargers met Rob Johnson's Bills. Flutie prevailed as the new ex-Bill broke a sack attempt and ran 13 yards for the game-winning touchdown. It would be the last win for the Chargers in 2001, as they dropped their last nine games to finish 5-11 and cost head coach Mike Riley
Mike Riley
Michael Joseph "Mike" Riley is an American football coach, currently the head coach of the Oregon State Beavers of the Pacific-12 Conference...
his job. (Buffalo, respectively, finished 3-13 with Johnson and, later, Alex Van Pelt
Alex Van Pelt
Alexander "Alex" Van Pelt is an American football coach and former quarterback. He is currently the quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccanneers of the National Football League.-College:...
as starters.) Flutie was Drew Brees
Drew Brees
Drew Christopher Brees is a quarterback for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Purdue....
' backup in 2002.
In 2003, Flutie replaced a struggling Brees when the Chargers were 1–7. The 41-year-old Flutie became the oldest player to score two rushing touchdowns in a game, the first player over 40 to accomplish that feat. He also became the oldest AFC Offensive Player of the Week, winning the award for the fourth time. Flutie's record as a starter that year was 2–3. Flutie was released from the Chargers on March 13, 2005.
New England Patriots
Flutie surprised many when he signed with the New England PatriotsNew England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
instead of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He became the backup behind Tom Brady
Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . After playing college football at Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft.He has played in four Super Bowls,...
and played several times at the end of games to take a few snaps. Flutie has a 37-28 record as an NFL starter, including a 22-9 record in home games.
Referring to his time in the Canadian Football League (and, presumably, to the quarterback's relatively diminutive stature), television football commentator John Madden once said, "Inch for inch, Flutie in his prime was the best QB of his generation."
In a December 26, 2005 game against the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Flutie was sent in late in the game. The Jets also sent in their back-up quarterback, Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
. This was the first time in NFL history that two quarterbacks over the age of 40 competed against each other (Testaverde was 42, Flutie was 43). This was the final nationally televised Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
game on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
before its move to ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
In the Patriots' regular-season finale against the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 1, 2006, Flutie successfully drop kick
Drop kick
A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....
ed a football for an extra point
Extra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
, something that had not been done in a regular-season NFL game since 1941. It was Flutie's first kick attempt in the NFL, and earned him that week's title of AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
, known for his knowledge of the history of the game, made comments that suggested that the play was a retirement present of sorts for his veteran quarterback, although Flutie had made no comment on whether 2005 would be his last season. There is video of the Flutie describing the event in his own words.
During the 2006 offseason, Flutie's agent, Kristen Kuliga, stated he was interested in returning to the Patriots for another season; as a result he was widely expected to return, despite his age. But on May 15, 2006, Flutie announced his decision to "hang up his helmet" at the age of 43 and retire. Flutie was the second to last former USFL
United States Football League
The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in...
player to retire, behind Sean Landeta
Sean Landeta
Sean Edward Landeta is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League...
.
Near-return to the CFL
Because of injuries with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, Flutie was contemplating a temporary comeback with the team as of July 25, 2006. Flutie did not plan to play long-term, for he had planned on doing college football commentary on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
in the coming season. On August 18, 2006, a story was published on CFL.ca examining this topic in-depth. Flutie was pondering a return to Canadian Football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
because of his relationship with Argonauts head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
and former running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Pinball Clemons
Pinball Clemons
Michael Lutrell "Pinball" Clemons, O.Ont is the current Vice-Chair for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Clemons also played with the Argos for twelve seasons, and twice served as their head coach. His No. 31 jersey is one of only four that has been retired by the Argos...
, and the desire to "say goodbye to the CFL". According to the report, Flutie was poised to return to Toronto on July 22, after their victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
and the injury to backup quarterback Spergon Wynn
Spergon Wynn
Spergon Wynn III is a former American and Canadian football quarterback. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
. Nevertheless, Flutie chose to remain in retirement.
Personal life
Flutie is the older brother of the CFLCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
's third all-time receptions leader, Darren Flutie
Darren Flutie
Darren Paul Flutie is a former Canadian football wide receiver for the BC Lions, Edmonton Eskimos, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He is the Canadian Football League's third all-time leader in catches, behind Ben Cahoon and Terry Vaughn; he is also third all-time in career receiving yardage behind...
. Flutie also has an older brother, Bill Flutie and an older sister, Denise Flutie. His nephew Billy Flutie, son of Bill Flutie, is a wide receiver/punter at Boston College. Flutie is the second son of Richard and Joan Flutie. Flutie is married to his high school sweetheart, Laurie, (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Fortier). They have a daughter, Alexa, a New England Patriots Cheerleader, and a son, Doug Jr. Their son has autism
Autism
Autism is a disorder of neural development characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. These signs all begin before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their...
, and the Fluties established The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc. in honor of him. He also created a cereal, Flutie Flakes
Flutie Flakes
Flutie Flakes is the name of a brand of frosted corn flakes breakfast cereal named for quarterback Doug Flutie.The brand was created in 1998, after Flutie, then the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, saw his popularity soar because of his scrambling, last quarter heroics and his impressive...
, with the benefits going toward this organization. In his free time, Flutie has attended college football and basketball games at his alma mater Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
and was a season ticket-holder. Flutie has spent his summers in Bethany Beach
Bethany Beach, Delaware
Bethany Beach is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 Census Bureau figures, the population of the town is 1,060; however, during the summer months some 15,000 more populate the town as vacationers...
, Delaware, frequenting the local basketball court. Flutie also has worked with the local Massachusetts Eastern Bank
Eastern Bank
Eastern Bank is the largest independent, mutually owned bank in New England and the largest community bank in Massachusetts. With 82 branches, Eastern has a 2.83% market share in Massachusetts as of 2009...
and is a spokesman for Natick/Framingham's Metrowest Medical Center. He is a member of the Longfellow Sports Clubs at their Wayland and Natick locations. Flutie continues to live in Natick and was honored in November, 2007 by being inducted into the Natick High School
Natick High School
Natick High School is a public high school serving students in grades 9-12 in Natick, Massachusetts. The school is located on the banks of Lake Cochituate. It enrolled 1189 students as of the 2005-06 school year. Rose Bertucci is currently the interim principal after the retirement of former...
Wall of Achievement. A short stretch of road connecting the Natick Mall and the Shoppers' World Mall in Natick / Framingham, MA is named "Flutie Pass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
" in honor of his historic 1984 play against Miami.
Flutie frequents Melbourne Beach, Florida in the winter time and has a local sports field complex named after him.
With his brother Darren on guitar, Doug plays drums in the Flutie Brothers Band, and once played for Boston
Boston (band)
Boston is an American rock band from Boston, Massachusetts that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. Centered on guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, and producer Tom Scholz, the band is a staple of classic rock radio playlists...
at a tribute honoring Doug. Nov. 13, 2006 was Doug Flutie Day in Boston. Flutie endorsed Scott Brown
Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a United States senator.Scott Brown may also refer to:-Sportsmen:*Scott Brown , American college football coach of Kentucky State...
for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
for 2010, and the Flutie Brothers Band played at Brown's victory celebration.
Halls of Fame
On May 8, 2007, Flutie was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of FameCanada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
, becoming the first non-Canadian inductee.
On May 9, 2007, Flutie was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
in his first year of eligibility.
On April 2, 2008, Flutie was elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame
The Canadian Football Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit corporation, located in Hamilton, Ontario, that celebrates great achievements in Canadian football. It is an open to the public institution. It includes displays about the Canadian Football League, Canadian university football and Canadian...
in his first year of eligibility.
Career statistics
| Passing | Rushing | Kicking | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | Comp | Att | Pct | Yds | TD | INT | Att | Yds | TD | XP | XP Att | FG | FG Att | FG Long | |||
| 1985 1985 USFL season The 1985 USFL season was the third and final season of the United States Football League.-Regular season:W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against = Division Champion, = Wild Card-Playoffs:... |
New Jersey New Jersey Generals The New Jersey Generals were a franchise of the United States Football League established in 1982 to begin play in the spring and summer of 1983. The team played three seasons from 1983-85, winning 31 regular-season games and losing 25 while going 0-2 in postseason competition... |
USFL United States Football League The United States Football League was an American football league which was in active operation from 1983 to 1987. It played a spring/summer schedule in its first three seasons and a traditional autumn/winter schedule was set to commence before league operations ceased.The USFL was conceived in... |
15 | 134 | 281 | 47.6 | 2,109 | 13 | 14 | 65 | 465 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1986 1986 NFL season The 1986 NFL season was the 67th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXI when the New York Giants defeated the Denver Broncos to win their first league title in 30 years.-Major rule changes:... |
Chicago 1986 Chicago Bears season The 1986 Chicago Bears season was their 67th regular season and 17th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 14-2 record and won the NFC Central for the third consecutive season.... |
NFL National Football League The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing... |
4 | 23 | 46 | 50.0 | 361 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 36 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1987 1987 NFL season The 1987 NFL season was the 68th regular season of the National Football League. A 24-day players' strike reduced the 16-game season to 15. The games that were scheduled for the third week of the season were canceled, but the games for weeks 4–6 were played with replacement players... |
Chicago 1987 Chicago Bears season The 1987 Chicago Bears season was their 68th regular season and 18th post-season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 11-4 record in the strike-shortened season, winning their fourth consecutive NFC Central title... |
NFL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| New England 1987 New England Patriots season The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's strike-shortened 1987 season with a record of eight wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:... |
NFL | 1 | 15 | 25 | 60.0 | 199 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | ||||
| 1988 1988 NFL season The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division.... |
New England 1988 New England Patriots season The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1988 season with a record of nine wins and seven losses, and finished tied for second in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:... |
NFL | 11 | 92 | 179 | 51.4 | 1,150 | 8 | 10 | 38 | 179 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1989 1989 NFL season The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement... |
New England 1989 New England Patriots season The New England Patriots finished the National Football League's 1989 season with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC East division.-Staff:-Schedule:-Roster:... |
NFL | 5 | 36 | 91 | 39.6 | 493 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 87 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1990 1990 CFL season The 1990 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 37th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 33rd Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1990:J... |
British Columbia 1990 BC Lions season The 1990 BC Lions finished in 4th place in the West Division with a 6–11–1 record and failed to make to playoffs.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-References:... |
CFL Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football.... |
16 | 207 | 392 | 52.8 | 2,960 | 16 | 19 | 79 | 662 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1991 1991 CFL season The 1991 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 38th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 34th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1991:... |
British Columbia 1991 BC Lions season The 1991 BC Lions finished in 3rd place in the West Division with a 11–7 record. They appeared in the West Semi-Final.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:-Awards and records:... |
CFL | 18 | 466 | 730 | 63.8 | 6,619 | 38 | 24 | 120 | 610 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1992 1992 CFL season -1992 CFL Awards:*CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Doug Flutie , Calgary Stampeders*CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Ray Elgaard , Saskatchewan Roughriders*CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Willie Pless , Edmonton Eskimos... |
Calgary 1992 Calgary Stampeders season The 1992 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 13–5 record and won the Grey Cup for the first time since 1971, ending the longest drought of any team at that time.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:... |
CFL | 18 | 396 | 688 | 57.5 | 5,945 | 32 | 30 | 96 | 669 | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1993 1993 CFL season The 1993 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 40th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 36th Canadian Football League season.-CFL news in 1993:... |
Calgary 1993 Calgary Stampeders season The 1993 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 15–3 record. They attempted to defend their Grey Cup championship in front of a home crowd at McMahon Stadium, but they lost in the West Final to the eventual Grey Cup champions Edmonton Eskimos.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:-... |
CFL | 18 | 416 | 703 | 59.1 | 6092 | 44 | 17 | 74 | 373 | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1994 1994 CFL season The 1994 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 41st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 37th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1994:... |
Calgary 1994 Calgary Stampeders season The 1994 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the West Division with a 15–3 record. They appeared in the West Final but lost to the eventual Grey Cup champions BC Lions.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Season schedule:... |
CFL | 18 | 403 | 659 | 59.1 | 5,726 | 48 | 19 | 96 | 760 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1995 1995 CFL season The 1995 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 42nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 38th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1995:... |
Calgary 1995 Calgary Stampeders season The 1995 Calgary Stampeders finished in 1st place in the North Division with a 15–3 record. They appeared in the Grey Cup but lost to the Baltimore Stallions... |
CFL | 11 | 223 | 332 | 67.1 | 2,788 | 16 | 5 | 46 | 288 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1996 1996 CFL season The 1996 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 43rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 39th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1996:... |
Toronto 1996 Toronto Argonauts season The 1996 Toronto Argonauts finished in 1st place in the East Division of the 1996 CFL season with a 15–3–0 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Grey Cup:-Awards and records:... |
CFL | 18 | 434 | 667 | 65.0 | 5,720 | 29 | 17 | 101 | 756 | 9 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1997 1997 CFL season The 1997 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 44th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 40th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1997:... |
Toronto 1997 Toronto Argonauts season The 1997 Toronto Argonauts finished in 1st place in the East Division of the 1997 CFL season with a 15–3–0 record and won the Grey Cup.- CFL Draft:-Preseason:- Season Standings:-Regular season:-Postseason:-Grey Cup:-Awards and records:... |
CFL | 18 | 430 | 673 | 63.9 | 5,505 | 47 | 24 | 92 | 542 | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1998 1998 NFL season The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS... |
Buffalo 1998 Buffalo Bills season The 1998 Buffalo Bills season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League. The season marked an important development in the Bills history as a quarterback controversy would consume the whole season between Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie. It would also mark the beginning of the... |
NFL | 13 | 202 | 354 | 57.1 | 2,711 | 20 | 11 | 48 | 248 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 1999 1999 NFL season The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season... |
Buffalo 1999 Buffalo Bills season The 1999 Buffalo Bills season was the 40th season for the team in the National Football League. It would be the final season that long time Bills members Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas were on the same team together. All three were released at the end of the season due to salary cap... |
NFL | 15 | 264 | 478 | 55.2 | 3,171 | 19 | 16 | 88 | 467 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2000 2000 NFL season The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000... |
Buffalo 2000 Buffalo Bills season The 2000 Buffalo Bills season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League. The Bills total offense ranked 9th in the league, and their total defense ranked 3rd in the league. It was the first time since the 1987 season that long time Bills members Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and... |
NFL | 11 | 132 | 231 | 57.1 | 1,700 | 8 | 3 | 36 | 161 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2001 2001 NFL season The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day... |
San Diego 2001 San Diego Chargers season -Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
NFL | 16 | 294 | 521 | 56.4 | 3,464 | 15 | 18 | 53 | 192 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2002 2002 NFL season The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each... |
San Diego 2002 San Diego Chargers season The 2002 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–11 record in 2001. It was Marty Schottenheimer's first season as the team's head coach... |
NFL | 1 | 3 | 11 | 27.3 | 64 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2003 2003 NFL season -Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *... |
San Diego 2003 San Diego Chargers season The 2003 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–8 record in 2002. They finished the campaign 4th in their division and earned the #1 pick in the 2004 NFL draft... |
NFL | 7 | 91 | 167 | 54.5 | 1,097 | 9 | 4 | 33 | 168 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 2004 2004 NFL season The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005... |
San Diego 2004 San Diego Chargers season The 2004 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4–12 record in 2003. They finished the campaign 1st in their division and made the playoffs for the first time in nine years. In the playoffs they lost in overtime to the New York Jets... |
NFL | 2 | 20 | 38 | 52.6 | 276 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | |||
| 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... |
New England 2005 New England Patriots season The 2005 New England Patriots season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 46th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and the division title before losing in the playoffs to the Denver Broncos.... |
NFL | 5 | 5 | 10 | 50.0 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 5 | –1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | |||
| 1985 | USFL | 1 season | 15 | 134 | 281 | 47.6 | 2,109 | 13 | 14 | 65 | 465 | 6 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | |||
| 1986–2005 | NFL | 12 seasons | 91 | 1,177 | 2,151 | 54.7 | 14,715 | 86 | 68 | 338 | 1,634 | 10 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | |||
| 1990–1997 | CFL | 8 seasons | 135 | 2,975 | 4,844 | 61.4 | 41,355 | 270 | 155 | 704 | 4,660 | 66 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | |||
| 1985–2005 | Total | 21 seasons | 241 | 4,286 | 7,276 | 58.9 | 58,179 | 369 | 237 | 1,097 | 6,759 | 82 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | |||
See also
- Flutie effectFlutie effectThe Flutie Effect or Flutie Factor refers to the phenomenon of having a successful college sports team increase the exposure and prominence of a university...
- Flutie FlakesFlutie FlakesFlutie Flakes is the name of a brand of frosted corn flakes breakfast cereal named for quarterback Doug Flutie.The brand was created in 1998, after Flutie, then the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, saw his popularity soar because of his scrambling, last quarter heroics and his impressive...
- Flutie Fruities
- NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating