Football's Flutie Loses Both Parents on Same Day

Heartbreak for retired NFL quarterback Doug Flutie. Flutie's mother and father both died of heart attacks within an hour of each on Wednesday.

In a Facebook post, Flutie announced that his father, Dick, died in the hospital of a heart attack after a long illness- and his mother Joan succumbed to a heart attack of her own less than an hour later .

"They say you can die of a broken heart and I believe it. I would like to honor my parents for all that they did throughout my and my brothers' and sister's lives," Flutie said in a Facebook post announcing the tragedy.

"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."

It is with a heavy heart that I am making this statement. This morning my family experienced the tragic loss of my...

Flutie, who led Boston College to a memorable victory over Miami in 1984, had a long professional football career in the NFL, the USFL and the Canadian Football League.