Former Buffalo Bills quarterback Doug Flutie will be the Legend of the Game for Buffalo's Sunday night game against the San Francisco 49ers.
"It's exciting to get back in that stadium," Flutie said. "It's exciting to get a reaction from the fans and be appreciated. It's amazing… The fans were just amazing, so very excited about being the Legend of the Game and coming back and interacting with the fans… It's just a heartwarming feeling to get back up there in Buffalo."
He is looking forward to being back to cheer on the Bills with Bills Mafia, saying that they are the most die-hard fan base in the NFL.
"During that time, Dougie had just been diagnosed with autism, my wife was going back and forth to Boston a lot, and so I ate a lot of meals at Uncle Joe's diner, and the people there were just like family to me," Flutie said. "It was just a really, really fun atmosphere to play football in… They were just fanatical about getting back to the playoffs, so it was just a great experience."
Flutie added that he is a fan of watching Josh Allen play quarterback.
"I love watching Josh Allen play," Flutie said. "His competitiveness, he's a big guy, he's still athletic and moves and can run and throw, throwing the move. I've really enjoyed watching Josh play. I had a chance to meet him last time I was up there, and we talked about he just was very down the earth and easy to talk to, so I've been a fan ever since he's gotten there."
Flutie signed with the Bills in the 1998 offseason and began the season as the backup quarterback until entering for an injured Rob Johnson and led a fourth quarter comeback against the Indianapolis Colts. During his time as the Bills quarterback, Flutie had a 22-9 record and led the Bills to the playoffs twice.
He made the Pro Bowl in 1998 and won Comeback Player of the Year after winning 8-of-11 starts and leading the Bills to the playoffs. Flutie said that playing in Buffalo was a big step in his career after playing in the CFL for eight years.
"It was my second shot at the NFL, and validated all the things I believed that I could do," Flutie said. "In my career it was a very important year when I first came back. It wasn't just a stop, it was, it was a big, big part of my NFL career… And then emotionally, the way the fans reacted, with the Flutie flakes and everything else, and selling, I don't know how many millions of boxes to raise the money for the foundation."
Since retiring Flutie has been heavily involved with his foundation: The Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. He had the idea after speaking with Jim Kelly and he wanted to do something in his son's name who was diagnosed with autism.
"The foundation has thrived," Flutie said. "We do a lot more virtual stuff, because of COVID… Our fundraising over the last few years has been through the roof. It just continues to progress. In the communities, we have started up camps for kids with autism, whether it's getting computers in their homes, or adaptive type toys or facilities for them to use. And our son Dougie's name is on everything, and it's going to be his legacy, and hopefully continue for years on end, but it's stronger than ever and going very well."
Flutie will join Bills Mafia in rooting on the Bills as they take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at 8:20 p.m.
