Doug Flutie Pens Heartfelt Message After Parents Die An Hour Apart

Doug
Flutie is experiencing a double dose of heartbreak.

The
former football superstar announced that both of his parents died on Wednesday within just an hour of each other.

Doug
shared the sad news on Facebook, honoring his late mom and dad with a moving
tribute. 

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“It is with a heavy heart that I am making this
statement. This morning my family experienced the tragic loss of my father,
Dick, and mother, Joan,” he wrote, captioning a sweet photo of the pair smiling together. “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.”

The couple was married for nearly six decades. In his
message, Doug said he thought their nearly simultaneous passing may not have
been a coincidence. 

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“They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe
it,” he wrote.

The 53-year-old continued, commemorating his parents’
dedication to him and his siblings.

“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,” Doug wrote.
“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.” 

Doug
rose to fame in the ’80s as a quarterback for Boston College, where he was
awarded the Heisman Trophy. He later spent 12 years in the NFL for multiple
teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears and San Diego Chargers,
before ending his pro career with the New England Patriots in 2005. 

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Many
of Doug’s sports colleagues, as well as his alma mater, shared their condolences
on social media. 

"They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it." – Doug Flutie, on his parentshttps://t.co/2OcXphKixm pic.twitter.com/mN5bMwt8kp

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) November 18, 2015

Our hearts go out to the Flutie family, all of whom are in our prayers. https://t.co/bOKFfWTVt1

— Boston College (@BostonCollege) November 18, 2015

Sending our condolences to former Chargers QB Doug Flutie and his family. https://t.co/TCJgMPVFvN

— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) November 18, 2015

The thoughts and prayers of the Bills family are with our former QB Doug Flutie. https://t.co/rkzbUFUSLo

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) November 18, 2015

Sending thoughts & prayers to former Patriots QB and New England football icon @DougFlutie & his family. https://t.co/GgfJinh4uA

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) November 18, 2015

— Erin Biglow