Important Dates in Bills History presented by M&T Bank helps fans recognize what's important. In the NFL, having a dynamic quarterback to lead an offense is important, and on Jan. 16, 1998 CFL great Doug Flutie joined Buffalo's roster.
The 1984 Heisman Trophy winner, Flutie flourished during his years playing football at Boston College. Flutie's collegiate success led him to the 1985 NFL draft, where he was picked by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round. After a short stay in Los Angeles, Flutie played in the USFL for the New Jersey Generals for one year. Flutie made his way back to the NFL in 1986, where he spent two seasons with the Chicago Bears before moving on to New England. Following a three-year stint with the Patriots, Flutie left the NFL to start his legendary career in the CFL.
During his eight years in the CFL, Flutie accumulated 41,355 yards passing and 270 touchdowns. Making a significant statement, Flutie decided to take on the NFL for a second time. Flutie spent three seasons with the Bills, where he totaled 7,582 yards passing and 47 touchdowns. Flutie's first two seasons proved highly successful. In 1998 he was selected to the Pro Bowl and was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. In 1999 Flutie played in 15 games, posted 3,171 yards for 19 touchdowns and helped lead the team to a regular season record of 11-5. During his time in Buffalo, the Bills made two AFC Wild Card appearances.
Flutie retired from the NFL in 2006, after 21 years of playing professional football. Throughout his career, the signal caller earned several awards and had a host of unforgettable moments on the field. He was named the greatest Canadian Football Player of all time in 2006 and was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2007.
