Florida Tech Trustee Flutie Joins “Dancing with the Stars” Cast
Hit ABC Show Returns with Legendary Quarterback March 21
MELBOURNE, FLA. — Florida Institute of Technology Trustee, philanthropist and football legend Doug Flutie is headed to Hollywood to share his fancy footwork on national television.
The former NFL star will join the cast of “Dancing with the Stars” when the new season premieres Monday, March 21, at 8 p.m. on ABC. Competitors for the 22nd season of the popular primetime show were announced today on “Good Morning America.”
“We’re proud of Doug, and excited that he has this opportunity,” said Florida Tech President and CEO Anthony J. Catanese. “It will be fun to see this local legend kicking up his heels for a national television audience.”
Flutie is the second member of the Florida Tech family to appear on “Dancing with the Stars.” Former astronaut and moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, Florida Tech Research Professor of Aeronautics, competed in 2010. His Buzz Aldrin Space Institute opened at Florida Tech last year.
Raised in nearby Melbourne Beach, Flutie played 12 seasons in the National Football League, eight seasons in the Canadian Football League and one season in the United States Football League. He was a six-time CFL Most Outstanding Player Award recipient, a six-time CFL All-Star, named NFL Comeback Player of the Year and played in the 1999 Pro Bowl.
He won three Grey Cup Championships in the CFL and was selected MVP in each of the championship games. In 2006, he was voted the best CFL player of all time by The Sports Network (TSN). He is a member of the Canadian Football, Canada’s Sports and College Football halls of fame.
Flutie is famously known for his Hail Mary pass that led Boston College to a 47-45 victory over the defending national champions, the University Miami, in 1984. He received several awards for his performance that season, including the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and the Maxwell Award. He went on to graduate from Boston College with degrees in communications and computer science.
Following his playing career, he has served as a color analyst and in-studio analyst for ABC, ESPN College Football and NBC. Most recently, he serves as an analyst for NBC Sports.
Flutie joined the Florida Tech Board of Trustees in 2014. He remains active in the community with the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism named after his son, who was diagnosed with autism at three years old. Its primary objective is to provide families with a place to turn when they are in need of support and autism resources.
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