Doug Flutie may have won the Heisman Trophy in 1984 but he was still overlooked by the NFL. The NFL made a big mistake overlooking Flutie and here’s why. Also we will look at his legendary career in the CFL and his comeback to the NFL in 1998.

College Career

Doug Flutie played his college ball at Boston College. While there he passed for 10,000 yards and set the NCAA’s all time passing record. In his Senior year alone he passed for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns

Flutie’s signature play while at Boston College was a long hail mary in the final seconds against the University of Miami to Gerard Phelan which won the Eagles the game over the Hurricanes. Flutie didn’t come out of nowhere in 1984 either, he finished third in Heisman voting in 1983 behind Nebraska’s Mike Rozier.

Flutie entered 1984 as a Heisman favorite and ended up winning the Heisman by a landslide. After his record-setting season at Boston College, Flutie declared for the 1985 NFL Draft.

CFL Career

Picking up from where we left off in college, Flutie was drafted in the eleventh round of the 1985 draft by the Los Angeles Rams. Flutie would never play for the Rams and was traded to the Chicago Bears in 1986.

Flash forward to 1989 Flutie had just been cut by the New England Patriots right before training camp. After being cut Flutie looked to the CFL and signed with the British Columbia (BC) Lions in 1990. In 1990 Flutie led the Lions in rushing despite being a quarterback, he rushed for 662 yards. In his two seasons with BC the Lions went a combined 17-18-1. Despite the less than outstanding record,

Following the 1991 season Flutie signed with the Calgary Stampeders and in his first year with the team, they won the Grey Cup. Flutie threw for over 5900 yards as he won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player award.

Flash Forward to 1996, Flutie signs with the Toronto Argonauts and is fresh off of the 1995 season where he won his fourth consecutive CFL MVP award. In 1996 Flutie threw for 5700 yards and he led the Argonauts to the Grey Cup finals where they faced the Edmonton Eskimo’s and defeated them in a close game 43-37. Flutie picked up his fifth consecutive CFL MVP.

In Flutie’s last season in the CFL he once again led the Argonauts back to the Grey Cup Finals where they faced the Saskatchewan Roughriders and won once again 47-23. The Argonauts and Flutie had won back to back Grey Cups and Flutie won his sixth consecutive MVP. After that legendary CFL career Flutie made his return to the NFL in 1998 by signing with the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Comeback

In the latter half of his career from 1998-2005 Flutie started 52 games and threw 63 touchdowns while playing for the Bills, Patriots and Chargers. After Buffalo and San Diego in the last year of his career Flutie signed with the New England Patriots. In that year Flutie got to backup Tom Brady and Tom Brady has said that Flutie was one his favourite teammates.

Flutie retired after the 2005 season and three years later in 2008 he was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall Of Fame.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this article Doug Flutie was overlooked by the NFL the first time around but after his legendary CFL career the NFL granted him another chance. Finally in his first year back in the NFL in 1998 he won the coveted Comeback Player of the Year. So when you think about the CFL you may not think of Doug Flutie right away but you should.