From Fifth String to Football Legend: The Unforgettable Career of Doug Flutie

October 23, 1962 – Manchester, Maryland – Doug Flutie, a quarterback from Boston College, had his father hand out cigars upon his arrival. After high school, Doug stood 5-foot-9-inches tall and was considered by some to be too short to play quarterback in the major division of college football. What he lacked in size, he had in heart, smarts, and natural ability on the gridiron. Boston College gave Doug a scholarship late, coercing the youth to choose BC over the University of New Hampshire.

According to the NFF, Flutie would not give up on his dream of being the Eagles’ quarterback, even though he was fifth on the depth chart as a freshman. Through hard work and determination, by week 6 of the season, Doug Flutie was the starting QB of Boston College and finished the season ranked number 9 in the nation in passing.

By the time he was a senior, he had won the Heisman trophy and had taken Boston College to multiple Bowl games, a feat they had not achieved for over four decades. Doug Flutie entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007. After college, Flutie embarked on a long and hard-fought road in a 21-year professional football career, playing in the USFL, NFL, and CFL. He was a six-time CFL Player of the Year before returning to the NFL. 

Accolades and Accomplishments

College Career (Boston College):

• 1984 Heisman Trophy Winner (Boston College’s first)
• 1984 Maxwell Award (College Football Player of the Year)
• 1984 Davey O’Brien Award (Nation’s Best College Quarterback)
• 1984 Unanimous All-American
• Set the NCAA all-time passing yardage record upon graduation with 10,579 career yards.
• Led BC to the 1985 Cotton Bowl victory, their first major bowl win in over 40 years.
• College Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2007).
• His famous, game-winning “Hail Mary” against Miami in 1984 is considered one of the greatest moments in college football history.
• Boston College retired his No. 22 jersey.

Professional Career (USFL, CFL, NFL):

• 6-Time CFL’s Most Outstanding Player (1991–1994, 1996, 1997)—a CFL record.
• 3-Time Grey Cup Champion (1992, 1996, 1997).
• 3-Time Grey Cup MVP (1992, 1996, 1997).
• NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1998) with the Buffalo Bills.
• NFL Pro Bowl selection (1998).
• Set the CFL single-season passing yards record with 6,619 yards in 1991 (with the BC Lions).
• Set the CFL single-season passing touchdowns record with 48 touchdowns in 1994 (with the Calgary Stampeders).
• Successfully executed the NFL’s first drop kick since 1941 (January 1, 2006, with the New England Patriots).