Former NFL star Doug Flutie shared via Facebook that his mother and father, Joan and Dick, both died of heart attacks an hour apart on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
“It is with a heavy heart that I am making this statement,” the Heisman Trophy winner, 53, wrote. “This morning my family experienced the tragic loss of my father, Dick, and mother, Joan. My dad had been ill and died of a heart attack in the hospital and my mom less than an hour later had a sudden heart attack and passed away. They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it.”
In the heartbreaking Facebook post, the former NFL quarterback praised his parents and expressed his love and gratitude toward them.
“I would like to honor my parents for all that they did throughout my and my brothers’ and sister’s lives,” Flutie wrote. “My parents were always there for their children, from the days my dad coached us as kids and my mom would work the concession stands, through to this morning. The most important part of their 56 years of marriage was providing opportunities to their children. They were incredible parents and grandparents and my family and I will miss them both. On behalf of me and the entire Flutie family, I would like to thank you all for your well wishes and prayers during this difficult time.”
Besides Flutie, his parents leave behind three other children.
Flutie is known for his legendary “Hail Mary” pass for Boston College that won a game against Miami in 1984 — considered to be one of the greatest plays in college sports history. That year, he won the Heisman Trophy.
The current NBC sports commentator also played for the New England Patriots from 1987 to 1989, as well as the Canadian Football League.
