Doug Flutie

Douglas Richard Flutie (born October 23, 1962) is an American former quarterback in the National Football League (NFL), Canadian Football League (CFL), and United States Football League (USFL).

Flutie first rose to prominence during his college football career at Boston College, where he received the Heisman Trophy and the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award in 1984. His “Hail Flutie” touchdown pass in a game against Miami on November 23, 1984 (dubbed “The Pass”) is considered among the greatest moments in college football and American sports history.

Flutie was selected as the 285th pick in the 11th round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, making him the lowest drafted Heisman Award winner among those who were drafted. Flutie played that year for the New Jersey Generals of the upstart USFL, having already signed a five-year $7 million contract with them prior to being drafted by the Rams. 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 CFL 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. Flutie is widely considered to be one of the greatest CFL players of all-time.