Flutie, Doug

▪ 2000

      He had to wait 14 years, but in 1998, at age 36, quarterback Doug Flutie took the National Football League (NFL) by storm. He led the Buffalo Bills to a 7–3 record under his guidance (10–6 overall) and an American Football Conference playoff spot, ending his career-long quest to prove that he could win at any level of play. In 1999 he confirmed his achievement with a new four-year extension to what had been considered a risky one-year contract. As the starting quarterback at Boston College in the early 1980s, Flutie had led the Eagles to national prominence and won the Heisman Trophy his senior season, yet the 1.75-m (5-ft 9-in) Flutie had not been considered a suitable candidate to play in the NFL, in which giant defensive linemen were expected to overwhelm him.

      Douglas Richard Flutie was born Oct. 23, 1962, in Manchester, Md. He made the varsity football team at Natick (Mass.) High School his sophomore year and led Natick to three straight 8–2 seasons. College recruiters, however, avoided the young star because of his size, and Boston College was the only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I-A school to offer him a scholarship. By his sophomore season, Flutie had guided Boston College to its first postseason bowl appearance in 40 years. At the end of his All-America senior season, Flutie had set NCAA career records for passing (10,579 yd) and total offense (11,317 yd).

      Aware of the skepticism that awaited him in the NFL draft, Flutie chose to sign a contract with the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League (USFL). His solid performance in the USFL attracted some attention in the NFL. He had a brief stint with the Chicago Bears, but three unproductive seasons with the New England Patriots ended when he was cut from the team. In 1990 he signed with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). The CFL, with its wider field and strong emphasis on passing, was a perfect fit for Flutie and his freewheeling, scrambling style of play. During an eight-year CFL career, he was named the league's top player an unprecedented six times, and three of the teams for which he played won the Grey Cup. His success earned him superstar status in Canada and legions of fans.

      With more than 40,000 yd, 270 passing touchdowns, and 70 rushing touchdowns to his credit in the CFL, Flutie was wooed to Buffalo and served as a backup quarterback at the start of the 1998 season. When the starter went down with a rib injury five games into the season, Flutie seized his chance. He threw for 2,711 yd and 20 touchdowns in 13 games, good enough to silence the doubters at last.

Anthony G. Craine

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